A death row inmate's elaborate final meal request before being executed

A Georgia man sentenced to die by lethal injection for the 1992 murder of his neighbour has requested an elaborate last meal, before instructing witnesses to kiss his “white trash ass”.

Death row inmate J.W. Ledford, 45, was pronounced dead at 1.17am local time after enjoying a meal that included bacon-wrapped fillet mignon, French fries, chicken tenders, fried pork chop, blooming onion, pecan pie with ice cream and sherbet, local broadcaster CBS46 reports .

Ledford is reported to have issued a final statement upon entering the execution chamber, in which he appeared to quote the film Cool Hand Luke, ABC News reports.

"What we have here is a failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach," he reportedly said, while smiling.

"I am not the failure. You are the failure to communicate.

"You can kiss my white trash ass.”

Ledford’s execution by lethal injection had originally been scheduled for 7.00pm (2300 GMT) Tuesday, but was delayed pending a last-minute US Supreme Court appeal, which was denied.

Ledford’s execution marks the first for the state of Georgia for 2017.

He had been on death row for a quarter-century after murdering his 73-year old neighbour, Harry Johnston, in 1992.

Ledford's lawyers had asked for his client to be put to death by firing squad -- an unusual request which was rejected on Monday by a court which considered it a delaying tactic.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles in Georgia also rejected an appeal for leniency requested by Ledford.

The execution comes less than a month after four inmates were put to death in one week in Arkansas, as the southern US state rushed to schedule the deaths before the expiration of a drug used in lethal injections.

That state had planned to put eight convicted murderers to death in 11 days -- a record, had it been carried out -- but four won reprieves.