N.C. Man Executed While Victim's Family Watches
Lyons Seventh N.C. Inmate Executed This Year

POSTED: 6:58 a.m. EST December 5, 2003
UPDATED: 7:20 a.m. EST December 5, 2003

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A North Carolina man was executed by injection Friday while the widow and children of his victim, a storekeeper murdered in 1993, watched him die.




"If my death brings another person happiness, then I'm happy for them," Robbie James Lyons, 31, said before lethal amounts of drugs hit his system, putting him to sleep before stopping his heart.


Lyons was sentenced to death in 1994 by a Forsyth County jury for the pistol slaying of Winston-Salem storekeeper Stephen Wilson Stafford, who was killed about 2 p.m. on Sept. 25, 1993.

He was the seventh inmate executed this year in North Carolina, the most since 1949 when 10 people were put to death.

Prosecutors said Lyons came into the store and fired four times with a .22-caliber pistol, hitting Stafford three times, once in the back. The Stafford shooting was the third event in a crime spree that included two armed robberies, said Assistant District Attorney David Hall.

Defense lawyers said Lyons wasn't a violent man, but suffered a personality defect and didn't have good legal representation at his trial. Lawyer Kirk Osborn compared the execution to state-sanctioned murder.

But widow Ramona Stafford -- who watched Lyons die along with her daughter, son, brother-in-law and current husband -- said despite laws limiting death row appeals she would like to see executions happen quicker.

A more streamlined process would help families of victims cope with their loss.

"I do not have to be in court anymore," she said after the execution. "I do not have to read briefs. I don't have to hear about the defendant's rights."

Stafford said defense statements that her husband wasn't killed intentionally were false.

"When this individual came barging into our store shooting a gun, all my husband had to defend himself was his hands," she said. "The death that Lyons had tonight was a painless one. I think of my husband's death and it certainly was not painless."

Defense lawyers didn't file last-minute court appeals, relying instead of a clemency petition to Gov. Mike Easley. The governor rejected the clemency request, saying he found no reason to reduce the sentence of Robbie James Lyons to life in prison.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson had sent Easley a letter urging clemency for Lyons.

Jackson said Lyons suffered frequent beatings as a youngster and at an early age was forced to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana and use crack cocaine.

Easley met with lawyers for Lyons as well as prosecutors and Stafford's family on Wednesday to hear arguments for and against clemency.

Lyons' last meal consisted of a pizza and lasagna, prepared according to Muslim dietary rules, and a Pepsi.

HOW DO THEY FIGURE ROBBIES DEATH WAS PAINLESS IT WAS NOT.DEATH NEVER IS

"If my death brings another person happiness, then I'm happy for them," Robbie James Lyons, 31, said before lethal amounts of drugs hit his system, putting him to sleep before stopping his heart.


were those his last words? so young, so sad. but today is a new day..and he is not suffering anymore.

melissa

Those were not his last words, his last words were;

La Illaha IllALLAH...........There is NO God but Allah.

Robbie also DID NOT fire the fatal shot the Killed Mr. Stafford. Derrick Hall (co-defendant who turned himself in first and copped a plea to save his own life) fired the last shot and was the last person to exit the store while Mr.Stafford was alive. It kills me how newspapers are supposed to report the facts, but just whose facts are they reporting? I hope that the family of Mr.Stafford are enjoying the champagne that they had with them at the prison last night. I am sorry for their loss, but THEY along with their buddy, Gov. Easley will have to face God one day and I would not want to be them. It is a sick and sadistic thing for people to rejoice in the death of another. My Brother was a warrior in life and he is one in death as well and he will continue to live on.

((((hugs)))))

youve gotta be kidding me, they were drinking champagne afterwards? i know it is a no no to commit a crime..period..but i just have to say, that just because someone is executed, it not only does not bring back the origional victim(s), it also causes more pain & grief & suffering for the inmates family (after the fact). his mom will most likely be on my mind all day today.

and as i sad at the end of my 15 minute prayer lastnight...you were someone, you were someone real special, you were smart, you have many people that hadnt met you yet they feel like they know you, and you will NEVER EVER be forgotten....he will never be forgotten. ill call ya later..hope your doing alright kori. stay strong.

Kori, thanks for clearing his last words up. I was upset when I read what the media said. I am proud of Robbie for his faith until the very last moment.

Robbie will always be in my heart and mind. Cause he will never be forgotten, he will always remain alive, with love and respect. Thats is a promise I make to Robbie, in my life.