Convicted Killer Finally Executed After Dodging Lethal Injection Seven Times... Pictured

A killer nicknamed the 'Houdini of Death Row' has finally be executed - at the eight attempt. Tommy Arthur, 75, dodged the lethal injection in Alabama an incredible seven times during his 25 years in jail. Campaigners described him as an "escape artist" who used "every trick in the book" to evade being put to death.

He filed another 11th hour legal motion in an attempt to have his execution stayed again on Thursday.

But Arthur's luck ran out after it was rejected and prison bosses began his execution just minutes before the death warrant expired at midnight.

Journalist Kent Faulk, who witnessed the execution, said he apologized to his children and mouthed "I love you" to his daughter before he died.

He was pronounced dead at 12.15am.

Arthur was sentenced to death in 1983 for the contract killing of Troy Wicker, the husband of his lover Judy.

Prosecutors said Judy paid Tommy $10,000 to murder Troy so they could cash in on his life insurance.

Judy initially denied she was involved, but later cut a deal fingering Arthur in exchange for life with parole.

Arthur was still serving a life sentence for murdering his sister-in-law five years earlier at the time.

Troy's killing happened just as he'd been allowed out on a work programme.

Over the years Arthur, who admits the first killing but has always adamantly denied the second, has used a number of legal loopholes to avoid execution.

"It's agonizing," he told NBC News from his jail cell this week. "I did not commit this crime."

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