I didn’t think it was possible, but the latest horribly botched execution in Arizona is even worse than the one in Oklahoma in May.

FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona officials say a murderer who was sentenced to death has died nearly two hours after his execution started.

Wood’s lawyers had filed an emergency appeal in federal court during the execution demanding that it be stopped. The appeal said Wood was “gasping and snorting for more than an hour.”

Attorney General Tom Horne’s office says Joseph Rudolph Wood was pronounced dead at 3:49 p.m., one hour and 57 minutes after the execution started.

Pure and simple barbarism, sanctioned by the government.

Here’s the expected justification from right wing governor Jan Brewer: Arizona Execution of Joseph Wood Took Nearly Two Hours - NBC News.com

Gov. Jan Brewer said she was “concerned” about the execution length and ordered a review but insisted Wood did not suffer “in stark comparison to the gruesome, vicious suffering that he inflicted on his two victims.”