'God will reward me'

A former Presbyterian church minister who shot dead a doctor and his bodyguard at an abortion clinic went to his execution in Florida claiming he was a martyr and that he was expecting "a great reward in heaven".

Paul Hill, 49, was killed by lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Starke. He had spent nearly nine years on death row for shooting dead Dr John Britton, 69, and his bodyguard, James Barrett, 74, outside the Ladies Centre clinic in Pensacola, Florida, in July 1994.

Hill remained unrepentant as he went to his death. In the execution chamber, his last words were: "If you believe abortion is a lethal force, you should oppose the force. May God help you to protect the unborn."

Hill, who was defrocked by the Church after his conviction, had made no attempt to appeal against his sentence and claimed the day
before his execution that he would be forgiven by God for killing to save the unborn, claiming: "I expect a great reward in heaven. I am looking forward to glory."

After a final meeting with his wife, son, sister and parents, Hill was taken to the execution chamber, where deadly chemicals were injected. He was pronounced dead six minutes later.

Outside the prison, police officers and explosive-sniffing dogs were in place to prevent protests getting out of hand. About 50 abortion and death penalty opponents quickly left after the execution. They carried placards reading "The Rev Paul Hill Is Going To Heaven - Dr Britton Gone To Hell."

One of Hill's staunch supporters, the Rev Michael Bray, said outside the prison: "There are several million people out there, maybe 100 million, who believe abortion is murder. Any of those acting on that assumption could do this [kill doctors]."

Florida abortion clinics and police were prepared for reprisals after Hill called on supporters to follow his actions.

"Paul Hill was a dangerous psychopath," said Marti McKenzie, a spokeswoman for a string of clinics across Florida.

On the morning of the murders, as Dr Britton and Mr Barrett entered the clinic parking lot, Hill shot Barrett in the head and upper body. He then reloaded and fired again, hitting Britton in the head and arm. Barrett's wife, June, was also wounded in the arm.

When officers arrested him, he said: "No babies are going to be killed in that clinic today."

The killings happened during a time of increased violence at abortion clinics nationwide.