Oklahoma City killer put to death

<br>(McAlester-AP) -- A man who beat an Oklahoma City man to death with an ashtray stand and fireplace poker died for the crime Tuesday night in Oklahoma's death chamber. <br><br>Robert Don Duckett

Tuesday, July 8th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(McAlester-AP) -- A man who beat an Oklahoma City man to death with an ashtray stand and fireplace poker died for the crime Tuesday night in Oklahoma's death chamber.

Robert Don Duckett received a heart-stopping injection at 6:16 pm. He apologized to his family and asked for forgiveness before telling the executioner, ``Let's go.''

Duckett was the 11th Oklahoma inmate executed this year.

He had exhausted his appeals and didn't try to stay his execution at the last minute.

Duckett was a 24-year-old prison escapee in October 1988 when he killed 53-year-old John E. Howard.

Howard's severely beaten body was found in their apartment with his hands and feet bound with wire.

Prosecutors say Howard was killed because he wanted Duckett to move out.

The defense alleged Howard made a homosexual pass at Duckett, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after a prison rape.