Penalty. Joining us tonight, the stepmother of the mom who died on the table last night. A botched execution in oklahoma is renewing the legal debate over capital punishment. Breaking news from the state prison. Last nights botched execution of a death row inmate. 38yearold Clayton Lockett. Convicted for the murder of 19yearold stephanie nieman. The first of two scheduled executions did not go as planned. It was clear something was not right. Witnesses said that lockett tensed, crashed, clenched his teeth. He was struggling to get up, to talk. It took lockett 43 minutes to die. And to what is typically a process lasting 6 to 12 minutes a awe even when the Death Penalty its justified it must be carried out humanely. The state needs to be certain of its protocols and its procedures. They wanted to hurry up and get it done. With as little transparency as possible. Off awe using a new untested, three drug lethal injection. Untested cocktail of questionable drugs. This combination has never been tried in oklahoma. Furious legal battle in oklahoma over whether the state could do this. A national issue. Reignited debate over capital punishment. Renewing the legal debate over capital punishment. After an execution last night in oklahoma went disturbingly wrong. Good evening. Im in for lawrence odonnell. Afters of legal back and forth over the source of an untested drug combination, the state of oklahoma got the chance to dupe wh do what it fought hard to do last night. Lockett was convicted of shooting stephanie nichlt eman in 1999. In a horrific crime ordering his acompolices to bury her alive. Now this would have been the state any first double execution in over 70 years, but as you have seen that was not to be. Instead the state of oklahoma witnessed a chaotic disastrous night that resulted in one inmate any death by heart attack now. That fill year led the state to delay the other inmates execution. The process was supposed to use one drug to sedate lockett. Second to pair rise, third to stop his heart. Instead this is how reporters who witnessed the botched execution described it moments after leaving the viewing room and before lockett was declared dead. His body was, continued to move. Locking, locking up. His head was lifting. Tightening his muscles. He was exhaling. He was still, lifting his shoemde shoulders and head off the gurney. Grimacing. He was struggling to talk. Those were the word he got out. Man, i am not and something is wrong. Of seemed like he was trying to get up. At 6 39. They loperwered the blinds. We didnt know what was happening on the other side of the blinds. Whether he was dying or they were pumping drugs in him. Briefly here are the key points that we know about last night. The execution began at 6 23 p. M. Local time. 7 minutes in. Lockett is conscious, heard saying, man, im not. States doctor declared him unconscious at 6 39. Locketts body begins convulsing, shaking. 6 49. The execution is halted. 43 minutes after he was administered the first of three drugs. Clayton lockett is pronounced dead from an apparent massive heart attack t at the white house today, press secretary jay carney weighed in on this execution. The crimes are indisputably horrific and heinous. But of it is also the case we have a fundamental standard in this country that even when the Death Penalty is justified it must be carried out humanely. And i think everyone would recognize that that this case fell short of that standard. In oklahoma, mean while, governor mary fallin reaffirmed her support of the Death Penalty but also called for a type of review of the states procedures here. He had his day in court. I believe the Legal Process worked. I believe the Death Penalty is inappropriate. An appropriate response and punishment to those who commit heinous crimes against their fellow men and women. However, i also believe the state need to beep certain of its protocols and its procedures for executions and that they work. Now that review its not independent. Heres what it will look noochlt fonoochlt into. Three i tementz. The cause of locketts death. Whether the protocols were followed during the execution. And whether those protocols actually require some further reform. More broadly when you look at a story like this that draws National Attention and condemnation, you have people questioning whether the u. S. Executes people in the right way. Or whether theyre even is a right way. And in just a few minutes i will talk with sister helen prejean, author of dead man walking. But we begin with an exclusive interview with Clayton Locketts stepmother, ladonna hollin. Thank you for joining us. How are yur . Im fine. How are you . Im okay. Obviously look people around the country. I am looking and learning abut this case. Obviously a difficult time for you. Just start by telling us what you can about what happened last night . Last night my son was unjustly executed. He died in extreme pain. I was watching it on the news. Clayton had requested that i not be at the execution. Because he had anticipated that Something Like this may happen. I feel that that the drugs that were used were unconstitutional. Im not quite sure if they were administered properly. And i want to know why . I want to know why after numerous stays of execution the execution was carried out and my son was tortured to death in front of a lot of people. When you look at what happened and you use the word torture. In your view do you think this was something that happened because the state just didnt care how this execution was conducted . Or do you think there was a sort of a deliberate desire to make this painful . I think that it was a desire to get it over with in a quick manner i believe that it didnt matter that the drugs were not tested. I believe it went forth without even any testing at all. I dont think that it mattered. I think the only thing that mattered is that my son was put to death by any means necessary. Something that you have mentioned previously is your conversations with him, his fears about this. What was on his mind the last time you spoke with him when they were going to go ahead and do something here that they hadnt really tested out in terms of these particular drugs . He was very concerned about the drugs that they were using. He knew that that there was enough time for them to be tested. He was very upset that the stay was lifted without without the protocol being looked into. Completely. Claytons concern was for for other people that were going to be executed behind him. As well as himself. I would say, that he was very worried about that. And when you look at, at what happened here you, have said before. You are not necessarily automatically against the Death Penalty as a approximately see. A debate that is going on. What do you think should have happened and what to due you say or what do you think abut tout victim tough the crime which we reported on. The victim died a horrible death. And i feel that my son would have been put to death regardless for his crime. And i think that that it was necessary in a sense. But i do not believe that it should have been carried out quite the way it was. There is a constitutional law that states that. Stephanie nieman died in a bad way. I feel sorry for that. And, in my heart, i have apologized to fameily for that. But lets get back to what really matters is the fact that, there is a constitutional law that we must follow, all of us, men, women, governors, senators. All people must follow the constitutional law. I do believe my sons rights were violated in a horrible way. And that this need to be stopped. Thats why i am here. And just briefly, last question, i did want to ask you. Because this is part of what a lot of people are talking about. Is you have been very close to this you. Looked at this process which clearly was a barareakdown by a estimation what should be done you mentioned. Do you think the way the Death Penalty its used here is making us as in your state, oklahoma, or around the country making us safer or not . Not. I do not believe it is making us safer. I do not believe that at all. I think it leaves, the state of oklahoma open. For a lot of things really. One thing is for sure, we are not administering the drugs properly. And people are being tortured to death and pronounced dead and they are still alive and they are suffering great pain with these drugs. And i think that it nieeds to b stopped. Halted until we can look into this thing and find out what is really going on and get the proper way. To put people down. Understood. Ladonna, thank you very much. Difficult time. Appreciate you speaking out and speaking with me tonight. You are very welcome. Thank you. Joining me now, i mentioned earlier, sister helen prejean, author of dead man walking. Thank you as well for joining me tonight. Glad to be here. Lets start with your thoughts on what happened last night. What r we know and need to know about this. I have acompanied six men to execution. Three in the electric chair. And three by lethal injection. There is no humane way to put a conscious imaginative human being to death. We have taken on this on ourselves to say, first of all, that our government and our courts are going to have the wisdom to select the worst of the worst murderers, which the Supreme Court has the said is supposed to be the criteria. That we can select the worst of the worst. And that we will then administer a punishment of death. Once you accept klg of people as punishment of their crime is acceptable. Whether lethal injection is panful or not. In some of the hearings that went on in thisser to wi eissue. Pains say pedestrianed to edsuf death. Qulin d when you die you are supposed to have pain. In the discussions of the court in lethal injection. If you are not sure if the first drug works, slap them around a bit seep it if theyre stale wa. He said that in a light vein. We are dabbling in method. The basic fallacy of saying we can allow our government to have the on tuption to choose to kil some of ourm citizens and hatch the wisdom to choose who needs to be killed. Everything about it is wrong. And as far as the process goes and the method. The Danish Company that was making the main drug that they used for years, they found out that their drug was being used to kill people. Exactly opposite of what they produce the drug, heal people and help them through the surgery. They stopped the drug. Thats why you have all this scurrying around. If i may have jump in. You mention that that was part of the underlying fight here was over the drugs and the secrecy that was going to be practiced. As we have reported a lot of back and forth maneuvering on that. The reason that matters. What you have a lot of people, come of paenz. That dont want to be in the killing business. So then that creates the undertow. I want to read to you something from the mother of charles warners victim. Let me go ahead and do that. Sure. Discussing the Death Penalty. Quote that would dishonor my daughter, dishonor me and everything i believe in. I wouldnt want to have to know about Something Like that. Ive wouldnt want to know my hand or what i want through personally is the reason why he, the inmate is no longer living. When he dies i want it to be because it is his time, not because he has been executed because due to what happened to me and my child. I mention that because having just interviewed Ladonna Hollins on the other side but isnt against the Death Penalty. Here is some one who is. We talk about the victims. We want to honor and remember them. What do you say, to victims, families when you look at the idea that these, these people who did these hap neinous crime should receive main in jail but not have their lives ended. One of the things that is changing us in this country. We are beginning to end the Death Penalty in the United States. It has been the witness of victims families saying, that the Death Penalty actually revictimizes them. Theyre told this is going to give justice for your dead child. And we well call you in. To witness it. And they start waiting, 10, 15, some times, 20 years. And theyre just saying, how do we heal . Theyre waiting for this closure. That never comes. But, people could be a different places on this journey. And in the beginning, all of the victims families i know all started out in graeat anger and would look to put their hands around the throat of the person that kimd their child and strangle them to death with their bare hand. Most victims families dont stay there. The real issue about the Death Penalty is us. See. People do terrible crimes. Why are we taking on ourselves that we can decide to which of these first of all is the worst and we know the pattern in the United States. Overwhelmly, its when white people are killed the ultimate punishment is sought. Let me put that on the screen for the numbers. And give you the final word. The important part that cant be ignored when you look at it structurally. When you look at seeking Death Penalty tin interracial murders. 20 white defendants dealing with a black victim. 270, black deflt defendants whee is a white victim. Death row population by race overall, 42 black. Highly overrepresented. That goes to some structural problems and how we do this. Dunltz it . Doesnt it . Did you hear me . I was, i was, did i lose you . I was asking if you would speak to the, the Racial Disparity as well . I think we have lost sister ellen prejean. I think we were agreeing on the final point. And appreciate her time absolutely. And we will be staying and bringing you more on this story as warranted. Most certainly. Coming up. We have radio silence from mr. Donald sterling after the lifetime ban from the nba. And something that might be a ray of hope here. Oprah is perhaps interested in buying the clippers. Also, ted cruz versus Elizabeth Warren on the senate floor. All about the minimum wage. Breaking news about store r toronto mayor rob ford. Where villages floated on water and castles were houses dragons lurked giants stood tall and the good queen showed the boy it could all be real avo whatever you can imagine, all in one place expedia, find yours no matter what kind of business you own, at t Business Experts can help keep it running. Seamlessly. So you can get back to what you love. When everyone and everything works together, business just sings. Now for something different. News you can use. Regulators in colorado are trying to find a way to educate consume ears but edible marijuana. Pot can be more powerful and potent if cooked into food. One idea would create labels on edible pot with symbols like those on green slopes. Green dots for weak pot. Black diamond for poet end marijuana products. Colorado limits the amount of thc in edible products. Up next. Donald sterling if he is forced to sell the clippers could oprah be nethe new owner. If there was a pill to help protect your eye health as you age. Would you take it . Well, there is. [ male announcer ] its called ocuvite. A vitamin totally dedicated to your eyes, from the eye care experts at bausch lomb. As you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. Ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. Ocuvite has a unique formula not found in your multivitamin to help protect your eye health. Now thats a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. Help protect your eye health. [ banker ] sydney needed some Financial Guidance so she could take her dream to the next level. So we talked about her options. Her valuable assets were staying. And selling her car wouldnt fly. We helped sydney manage her debt and prioritize her goals, so she could really turn up the volume on her dreams today. And tomorrow. So lets see what we can do about that. Remodel. Motorcycle. [ female announcer ] some questions take more than a bank. They take a banker. Make a my financial priorities appointment today. Because when people talk, great things happen. He talked about it on the trip. Prior to the decision. What i can tell you is that the president believes that the nba has done the right thing. Nba owners Advisory Finance Committee announced it will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the next steps in the possible removal of mr. Donald sterling. Adam silver urging the ten Member Committee to forcester long to sell the team after his infamous racist remarks. There may be a wide range of buyers. High profile celebrities are throwing their names into the court for a shot at taking over the ownership of the clippers to. Day, a spokesman for none other than yes, oprah, told msnbc. Oprah winfrey is in discussion with david geffen to make a bid for the l. A. Clippers should the team become available. Several musicians are also interested, or at least interested in being part of the story. Rapper rick ross, ricky rose tweeted i would be interested in invested in l. A. Clippers. Sean diddy combs said i will be a knicks fan but i am a businessman. Name your price. There are all told l told about nine openly interested investors. This rapidly growing roster. Another potential owner, Donald Sterlings, estranged wife rochelle, cheering and smiling at last nights playoff game. Donald sterling seen coming out of an l. A. Steakhouse sunday night and hasnt been seen since. Joining me now, an expert in the field of sports law. Gabe feldman, and mike pesca, welcome, gentlemen. What do you make of this mad dash to talk about buying team. I guess, oprah, if this was a greek tragedy. Who knows . Who cares . You dont think there is a huge symbolic power in some one like Oprah Winfrey stepping up right out of the gate, making it clear the money is there, not only abut race but happens to be one of the wealthiest and most successful africanamericans in our country . Since this is just some entertainment rumor, the story started on tmz, with an awedy like. Now it is in the realm of entertainment. I guess the l. A. Clippers are an l. A. Franchise. Seems so many steps away, and we are already burying Donald Sterling not that