NATION : Killer Gets His Death Wish

STARKE, Fla. — Convicted murderer James William Hamblen, who once said he thought it would be “spiffy” to die in Florida’s electric chair, was electrocuted this morning.

Hamblen, 61, was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. at Florida State Prison.

Hamblen had come within five hours of execution in July, 1989, when the Supreme Court issued an indefinite stay. Hamblen then asked that all his appeals be dropped.

In an interview last year, Hamblen said he was depressed that his execution had been halted.

“I can hardly wait to sit in Old Sparky (the electric chair.) I’m curious about it,” he said. “I’m not the least bit concerned about electrocution. I think it’s spiffy.”

Hamblen was convicted in the 1984 slaying of Laureen Jean Edwards, the owner of a Jacksonville lingerie shop, during an attempted robbery. He also told police of killing a girlfriend, Debbie Abbott, in 1984 during an argument in Spring, Tex.