Mississippi office: Charles Ray Crawford executed without 'fair trial'

AI-assisted summary

Charles Ray Crawford was executed by lethal injection in Mississippi for a 1993 murder.

His attorneys argued his trial was unfair because his original counsel conceded guilt against his wishes.

Last-minute appeals to the Mississippi and U.S. Supreme Courts to stop the execution were denied.

Crawford was convicted in 1994 for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 20-year-old Kristy Ray.

Minutes after Charles Ray Crawford was put to death Wednesday evening, the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel said he “was executed without ever receiving the fair trial we are all guaranteed.”

“Mr. Crawford’s inexperienced trial counsel conceded his guilt to the jury — against Crawford’s timely and repeated objections,” the agency said in a statement handed to re