Ernest Martin Executed

On Wednesday, June 18, 2003, Ernest Martin was executed by lethal injection. He was pronounced dead at 10:11 a.m. at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

Martin is represented by the Office of the Ohio Public Defender, and the Office contended Martin was innocent. After completing testing, Martin dropped a claim of mental retardation and on Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to stop the execution.

A Spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Execution, says there were no execution witnesses representing Robinson’s family, adding it is the first time that's happened since the state resumed executions in 1999.

Martin was convicted of killing Cleveland drug store owner Robert Robinson during a robbery in 1983. Martin made off with between $38 and $39 in the robbery.

Martin is the eighth person executed by the State of Ohio since the death penalty was reinstated in 1981.

• Death Row Residents Executed Under 1981 Law
• Execution Schedule