ROBERTS EXECUTED AS PLANNED

Coela Webb, left, Rich Hurling and Vicki Meissner, friends of convicted killer Roy "Hog" Roberts, attended a protest against the death penalty during the hours before Roberts was executed at Potosi early Wednesday.

POTOSI -- Despite his pleas of innocence and calls of protest from family, friends and religious leaders, Roy "Hog" Roberts was executed seven minutes after midnight Wednesday at the Potosi Correctional Center.

Roberts, 46, died by injection, as have all inmates executed since 1989. He was the third inmate to be put to death in Missouri this year.

As many as 12 executions could take place this year, death penalty lawyers say. That number is based on the cases whose appeals have run their course.

"You're killing an innocent man," Roberts said just minutes before being executed.

Inside the sterile prison, eight witnesses for the state and three chosen by Roberts watched him die. About three media representatives gathered in a lobby at 11 p.m. Tuesday to await official word of Roberts' death.

Outside in a gravel lot near the front entrance of the prison more than 50 people gathered to protest the execution by holding a candlelight vigil. Ten people from the Newman Center at Southeast Missouri State University attended.

The attention surrounding the execution was unusual, said Tim Kniest, public information officer for the Missouri Department of Corrections.

An ABC News crew filmed the candlelight vigil that was held outside, CNN and NBC reporters called for information, several St. Louis media outlets were present and Newsweek magazine made inquiries on Wednesday.

Usually, most of the media interest comes from the area where the crimes were committed, Kniest said. "It's been a long time since we had a case that attracted this kind of publicity."

Roberts, 46, was convicted in 1985 of the murder of Tom Jackson, a guard at the Moberly Correctional Center. As guards arrived to remove unruly prisoners during a riot, several prisoners mobbed them. Jackson was grabbed from behind and held down by Roberts while other prisoners stabbed him.

Roberts had said he was not involved in the scuffle. He wasn't charged until seven months after the stabbing. Prior to his murder conviction, Roberts had been serving time on robbery charges.

Because there have been questions about Roberts' innocence, his lawyers had asked Gov. Mel Carnahan for clemency. By 9:45 p.m Tuesday, the governor had decided not to intervene. Prison officials learned of the decision about 10:30 p.m.

Two months earlier, Carnahan had commuted the death sentence of convicted killer Darrell Mease after receiving a personal request from Pope John Paul II during the pontiff's visit to St. Louis.

Vatican officials again appealed to Carnahan on Roberts' behalf, as did the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Larry Rice and Sister Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking."

Roberts' friends said he was surprised and thankful for the people who continued to support him.

He was amazed at all the people who loved him, relatives said.

Vicki Meissner, Roberts' childhood friend, said the state had convicted an innocent man. "He saved my husband from drowning when they were kids," she said. "He's not a violent person. He's a good guy."

Despite their numbers, the protesters remained eerily quiet prior to the appointed hour. Some recited the rosary, others prayed silently. About 10 minutes before midnight, they began singing hymns.

Southeast students led the group in "Amazing Grace" and other songs.

Southeast student John Lacke said, "I don't think you can use the right to kill to show that killing is wrong."

Brett Richardson agreed. He said the state should find a better use for taxpayers' money than paying for executions.

Only one man came in support of the death penalty. The cold weather forced him into his car before guards announced that the execution had been completed.

All eyes were on the two prison guards approaching the gravel lot around 12:15 a.m. The pair sloshed across a muddy field to tell the protesters that "it's over" and they should leave state property.

The Rev. J. Friedel, director of the Newman Center, said students will continue to protest executions with the candlelight vigils. "Maybe then people will realize the insanity of taking a life. You can't prove life is sacred by taking life."

Earlier this week the Missouri Supreme Court said Roy Ramsey will be executed April 14. He is convicted of killing a western Missouri couple.

There are 87 inmates on death row, including one woman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.