Missouri: Christopher Collings executed – legal team calls it an act of revenge
On Tuesday evening, 49-year-old Christopher Collings was executed in the US state of Missouri with a lethal injection consisting of an overdose of pentobarbital.
He was sentenced to death for the 2007 rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl, who was the stepdaughter of his friend David Spear.
The crime was preceded by massive consumption of alcohol and marijuana together with Spear. After Collings had abused the child, he strangled the girl because she had recognized him.
His lawyers had explained at the trial that Collings was a problem child who was neglected by his parents, who themselves had a drug problem and were involved in criminal activities. He was repeatedly sexually abused in foster care.
Although Collings confessed, there are still uncertainties in the course of events, as Spears also confessed to the crime – he killed the girl. Spears is also said to have been the one who led the police to the body. Spears received a prison sentence and has been free again since 2015.
Collings, father of two now grown-up daughters with whom he had built up a close relationship during his time in prison, declared in his final words:
“Right or wrong, I accept this situation for what it is. To everyone I’ve hurt in this life, I’m sorry. I hope you can come to terms with it and move on. Regardless of which side you are on, you are in my prayers and I hope to see you again in heaven one day.”
His legal team shares their client’s hope for the victims’ families, but added: “What happened today was an act of revenge, but that doesn’t do Chris justice, and that’s not how we’re going to remember him.”