Alabama death row inmate Michael Samra Thursday night was executed for a 1997 quadruple murder in Pelham. Samra, 42, received a lethal injection at Holman prison near Atmore, officials said. Samra was convicted of helping a friend, Mark Duke, kill his father, the man's fiancee, and the woman's two children. Duke hatched was upset that his father wouldn't let him use a pickup truck. Duke was also sentenced to death, but had his sentenced change to life without parole when the U.S. Supreme Court banned executions for killers under 18. Duke was 16, and Samra 19, at the time of the killings. The department of corrections says Samra declined a last meal. Gov. Kay Ivey declined to stop the execution.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued the following statement, following the execution:
“On March 23, 1997, Michael Samra and his friend Mark Duke coldly executed their plan to murder Duke’s father, Randy Duke, along with his father’s girlfriend, Dedra Hunt, and her six- and seven-year-old daughters, Chelisa and Chelsea. One cannot possibly imagine a more terrifying ordeal for the victims. Randy Duke was shot in the head. Dedra Hunt was shot multiple times as she attempted to flee with one of her daughters. Samra and Duke then proceeded to kill both of the young girls, cutting their throats. Samra was convicted of capital murder in 1998 and received his just punishment: a sentence of death. After too many years of delay, justice has finally been served. Tonight, we pray for the victims and for their families, that they might find peace and closure.”