A Missouri man who beat his wife to death and then argued that execution was too cruel a punishment was put to death early yesterday by lethal injection. Timothy Johnston, 44, was pronounced dead at 12 h 07 a.m.

His last words were: “I hope Nancy’s mom forgives me. I hope everyone I’ve ever hurt forgives me. I’m ready to go to heaven. I hope you can forgive yourselves.” Johnston was sentenced to death for the 1989 beating of his wife, Nancy Johnston. Evidence showed he beat her head against a curb, kicked her and stomped her with steel-tipped boots, and hit her with a rifle butt and a chair.

Johnston filed several appeals of his execution, arguing that death by lethal injection was unconstitutionally cruel punishment. In appellate court arguments, lawyers for Johnston argued that his executioners may not adequately sedate him, leaving him to suffer “a painful and protracted death” from the lethal drugs used to stop breathing and the heart.

Courts rejected the appeals, leaving him to become the fourth inmate put to death in Missouri this year and the 65th person executed in Missouri since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Death penalty opponents around Missouri held vigils on Tuesday to protest the execution.