Alabama death row inmate James Barber had western omelet, loaded hash browns for final meal

Alabama death row inmate James Barber had nearly three dozen visitors and ate a final meal consisting of a western omelet, loaded hash browns and other breakfast fixings before his Friday morning execution, officials said.

Barber, 64, received a lethal injection at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore just before 2 a.m. Friday.

The former handyman’s death comes two decades after he was convicted in the fatal beating of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps with a claw hammer.

The confessed killer had 32 visitors in the two days prior to his execution, with 22 seeing him on Thursday alone, the State of Alabama Department of Corrections said.

He also had two phone calls Thursday and six Wednesday.

Barber also requested spicy sausage and toast in addition to the omelet and loaded hash browns, officials said.

He had refused breakfast earlier but had snacks and beverages throughout the day.

Barber spent the moments before his execution apologizing and telling officials, “I forgive you for what you are about to do.”

“I want to tell the Epps’ family I love them. I’m sorry for what happened,” Barber said. “No words would fit how I feel.”

His brother, Glen Barber, and friend, Elizabeth Bruenig, attended the early-morning events.

It was the first execution since last fall as Alabama halted such acts following two botched injections.

Barber, through his attorneys, had urged a judge to stop the execution, arguing the state has a known pattern of neglecting “to carry out a lethal injection execution in a constitutional manner.”

The case made its way to the US Supreme Court, where justices denied his request.

With Post wires