Arkansas executes prisoner

The state of Arkansas has executed an inmate for the first time in nearly a dozen years as part of its plan to execute several inmates before a drug expires April 30, despite court rulings that have already spared three men.

Ledell Lee was pronounced dead at 11:56pm on Thursday.

The 51-year-old Lee was given the death penalty for the 1993 death of his neighbour Debra Reese, whom Lee struck 36 times with a tyre tool.

Arkansas had scheduled eight executions over an 11-day period before the end of April, when its supply of one lethal injection drug expires. The first three executions were cancelled because of court decisions.

Two more inmates are set to die on Monday, and one on April 27. Another inmate scheduled for execution next week has received a stay.