The second series of Life and Death Row returns with an unusual first episode titled Execution. It tells the story of Daniel Lopez, a young man on death row in Texas who strangely wants to be executed and is determined to get his execution over and done with.
In March 2009 Lopez was involved in a high speed chase by the police and he ran over a police officer preparing to stop his car with a line of spikes to puncture his tyres.
Lopez's own lawyers are arguing for him not to die and believe that he is mentally unstable. They reckon that he is using the death penalty as a form of suicide.
Lopez was on death row for more than six years and wants his execution as soon as possible. Lopez died by lethal injection in August 2015.
This documentary talks to Lopez, his family, legal team, the judge involved in the case and the widow of the policeman that Lopez killed.
Part of the documentary is unsettling, Lopez appears to be cogent and regretful of his actions. As far as the justice system is concerned he committed a crime and needs to pay the penalty.
I found some of the editing a bit odd, even rather choppy. I would had liked to know more as to why Lopez felt his life was not worth continuing. The final words of the widow who was present when Lopez was executed just felt manipulative.