CEDAR CITY, Utah – After 25 years on death row, Taberon Honie, convicted of the 1998 murder and sexual assault of Claudia Benn, faces an impending execution by lethal injection. The execution, scheduled for August 8th, marks a significant development in a case that has spanned more than two decades.
Honie, convicted in 1999 for the heinous crimes against his girlfriend’s mother, showed little emotion as the judge ordered his execution. His silence in the courtroom contrasted with the relief expressed by the victim’s daughter, Benita Yracheta, who has awaited this ruling for a quarter of a century.
The decision to sign Honie’s execution warrant came after a three-hour hearing in the Fifth Judicial District court, where Judge Jeffrey C. Wilcox affirmed the order. State prosecutor Daniel Boyer commended the ruling, emphasizing the importance of upholding justice in such cases.
Despite the looming execution date, Honie’s attorney, Eric Zuckerman, requested additional time to investigate the new lethal drug cocktail planned for the execution. Zuckerman argued that Honie should have the right to make an informed choice about the drugs that will end his life, urging a more thorough examination of the administering protocol.
Zuckerman’s plea for a three-month extension to scrutinize the drug cocktail sparked a legal debate about the use of untested protocols in executions. The state’s position, as articulated by Boyer, highlighted the exhaustion of Honie’s legal avenues for appeal, signaling a potential challenge to the judge’s decision even with the signed execution warrant.
Anticipating further legal challenges, Boyer acknowledged the possibility of direct appeals or alternative reviews in the quest to delay or overturn the execution. Undeterred by the impending fate, Zuckerman vowed to appeal the ruling, illustrating the continued legal battle ahead for Honie.