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TEXAS (USA): MAN EXECUTED FOR RAPE, MURDER
April 22, 2010: William Berkley, convicted of the 2000 rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman, was executed in Texas by lethal injection, the state's sixth execution this year, prison officials said.
Berkley, 31, who was convicted in 2002 of the rape and murder of Sophia Martinez, was pronounced dead at 18:18 (23:18 GMT).
Born in Germany, where his father was serving in the military, Berkley was arrested in 2000 for the kidnap, rape and murder of Martinez. Her body was found the day after her murder in the desert, with five bullet wounds to the head.
Days before his execution, Berkley told local media he was innocent.
But Texas prosecutors said Martinez's car keys were found at Berkley's house, the bullets used against her came from a gun belonging to Berkley's father, and his DNA was found on Martinez's body.
Nine more executions are scheduled in Texas in the next three months. Berkley's execution was the 14th in the US this year. (Sources: AFP, 22/04/2010)
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