Chicago, Dec 12 (AFP) The southern US state of Texas on executed a convicted killer and rapist Tuesday over a 1993 attack on a newlywed couple. Alvin Braziel, 43, died by lethal injection at the Texas state prison in Huntsville.

He was convicted in 2001 of attacking Douglas and Lora White, who had been married just 10 days.

The couple were walking on a trail in the Dallas suburbs when Braziel, aged 18 at the time, attempted to rob them at gunpoint. When they said they did not have any money, Braziel shot Douglas White, 27, and raped Lora White, 23.

His lawyers filed no final appeals, but had previously challenged the death sentence on grounds that his history of mental illness and suffering abuse had not been considered as mitigating factors.

Braziel's crime remained unsolved for years until his DNA was tested in 2001 while he was serving a sentence for another sexual assault. It matched samples taken following Lora White's assault.

His execution was the 13th and last of the year in Texas, the most prolific capital punishment state.

There have been only 11 executions this year in all other US states that carry out the death penalty.

The last execution set to take places this year in the United States is due for Thursday in Florida, when Jose Antonio Jimenez is scheduled to die for stabbing a 63-year-old woman to death in her home in 1992. (AFP) AMS

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