Reprieve founder and director Clive Stafford Smith has spoken out to express his outrage after the state of Mississippi proceeded with the execution of Dale Bishop, despite the state conceding that it was his co-defendant, Jessie Johnson, who inflicted the blow that killed the victim in his murder case.

"Dale Bishop’s case is another example of poor representation leading to a death sentence contrary to common sense," the charity said in a statement.

"Despite the evidence that showed that Mr Johnson actually committed the murder, Mr Bishop’s trial lawyer advised him to waive his right to a jury trial and even asked the judge to sentence him to death." 

Stafford Smith said: “It turns your stomach. With adequate representation from the outset, Dale would still be alive today. How anyone can stand up and defend the death penalty when justice is such a lottery is beyond comprehension.”

Bishop was executed by lethal injection at midnight on Wednesday this week, UK time.