Death Row Inmate Troy Davis Executed in Georgia
Death row inmate Troy Davis was executed by lethal injection Wednesday night after the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request for a stay in the high-profile case that drew global attention and led hundreds to protest. Davis is shown here in a handout photo from the Georgia Department of Corrections. REUTERS/Ho New

Georgia executed Troy Davis Wednesday night for the 1989 of a police officer, a crime he maintained to the end he did not commit.

Davis, 42, was executed by lethal injection at 11:08 p.m. EDT, according to reports.

The inmate was defiant to the end, proclaiming his innocence in the 1989 slaying of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

Here are his final words, as recorded by an Associated Press reporter:

I'd like to address the MacPhail family. Let you know, despite the situation you are in, I'm not the one who personally killed your son, your father, your brother. I am innocent.

The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth.

I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight.

For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls.

The case, which drew international attention, ended in a grim final moment with Davis staring the MacPhail family in their eyes as he was put to death, according to reports.

The execution was delayed by four hours before the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a final appeal.

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