Crime and Punishment
On July 29, 1994, Hill approached a Pensacola, Florida abortion clinic, the Ladies Center, with which he was familiar. When he spotted clinic doctor John Britton and his bodyguard, James Barrett, outside, he shot them both at close range with a shotgun. Both Britton and James Barrett died. Hill also wounded Barrett's wife, June. Following the shots, Hill laid his shotgun on the ground and waited to be arrested.
During his trial, the judge did not allow Hill to use an affirmative defense justification. Hill said he viewed the acts as defensive rather than retributive. On December 6, 1994, Hill was sentenced to death by lethal injection under Florida law. His death warrant was signed nine years later by Governor Jeb Bush.
In a statement before his execution, Hill said that he felt no remorse for his actions, and that he expected "a great reward in Heaven". Hill left behind a manuscript manifesto which his backers promised him they would publish. Hill was not apologetic for the killings, and in his last words he encouraged others who believe abortion is an illegitimate use of lethal force to "do what you have to do to stop it".
Hill died by lethal injection in Florida State Prison on September 3, 2003.
Read more about this topic: Paul Jennings Hill
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