Reports released on Friday indicate that the Arizona convicted murdered received 15 times more doses of drug combination used for lethal injection after the standard one dose failed to kill him.

The state Department of Corrections released a statement following a review of convict Joseph Wood's execution ordered by Arizona's governor last month stating that after one dose of the lethal drug combination was not enough, 14 doses more were administered to kill him.

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Wood's execution on July 23 received so much attention after witnesses claimed that he gasped and snorted for two hours before dying what was supposed to be a peaceful death, reigniting the debate on capital punishment.

"A total of 750 mg each of Midazolam and Hydromorphone were administered to inmate Wood during the execution process," department director Charles Ryan stated referring to the 15 doses administered to Wood.

Arizona's execution protocol specified an initial dose of 50 milligrams each of both drugs but states that more doses can be used as long as the director approves.

This means the 15 doses administered to Wood was still within compliance with the state law, Ryan declared.

Dale Baich, Wood's attorney, stated that since the state needed 15 times the drugs specified under the law, the report indicate just the opposite explaining that the drug cocktail did not deliver the expected results.

Meanwhile, Arizona Senator Ed Ableser believes that the probe on Wood's botched execution should be done by an independent entity and not the Department of Correction itself citing the investigator should be someone "who will thoroughly and impartially answer the questions of what happened and why."

On the day of his execution, Wood was administered the lethal injection at 1:52 p.m. and was declared dead at 3:49.

Arizona's Department of Correction did not immediately disclose the amount of drug dosage used for his execution sparking controversy over procedures and secrecy.

The state Supreme Court directed officials to preserve labels and remaining drugs used for Wood's execution.

TagsArizona, botched execution, joseph wood