South Dakota Execution Hours Away

A South Dakota inmate ate a last meal of ice cream ahead ahead of his execution on Monday at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

Lawyer Mark Kadi tells the Associated Press that 50 year old Eric Robert requested ice cream for his last meal before he dies at the state penitentiary.  Robert is fasting for the 40 hours prior to the execution for religious purposes, so his last meal was on Saturday.

Robert is set to die at 10 p.m. Monday for the killing of prison guard Ronald Johnson during a failed escape attempt in April 2011.  Robert pleaded guilty to the slaying and was sentenced to death.

Robert did not appeal the sentence and told a judge that if left alive, he would kill again.

Several groups opposed to the death penalty plan to hold a vigil outside of the State Penitentiary and in other cities.