Paul Jennings Hill

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Paul Hill


image_size = 100px
caption = Hill shortly before his execution.
date_of_birth = Birth date|1954|2|6
place_of_birth = Miami, Florida
date_of_death = Death date and age|2003|9|3|1954|2|6
place_of_death = Raiford, Florida
occupation = Minister (defrocked)
charge = Murder
penalty = Lethal injection
status = Deceased
spouse = Karen Denise Demuth
parents = Oscar Jennings Hill, Louise Hill
children = Justin, Gloria and Joy Hill

Paul Jennings Hill (February 6, 1954 – September 3, 2003) was the first person in the United States to be executed for killing an abortion provider.__NOTOC__

Early life

Paul Hill was born in Miami, Florida on February 6, 1954, to Oscar Jennings Hill, an airline pilot, and his wife Louise. Hill was raised in Coral Gables, where he was popular in high school, but had been charged with assault at the age of 17 by his father when his father attempted to get treatment for his son's drug problem.

Hill's religious conversion happened two years later in 1973, after walking home from working a construction job. He enrolled in Belhaven College later that year.

Early career

Hill graduated from Belhaven College and Reformed Theological Seminary. Following his ordination in 1984, Hill became a minister affiliated with both the Presbyterian Church in America and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

He was excommunicated in 1993 following a number of nationally televised appearances, in which he claimed to be the new national spokesperson for abortionist killers, revealing himself to be a fanatical pro-life activist, with connections to the Army of God. [ [http://www.armyofgod.com/PaulHillWhoIs.html Who is Paul Hill?] ] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/abortviolence/stories/hill.htm Turning From 'Weapon of the Spirit' to the Shotgun] By Kathy Sawyer Washington Post Sunday, August 7, 1994; Page A01]

Though no longer employed as a pastor, Hill supported his family through an auto detailing franchise, largely through a network of new car dealerships and used car lots. However, the dealers began to use less and less of his services after learning about his anti-abortion agenda.

Crime and punishment

On July 29, 1994, Hill approached a Pensacola, Florida abortion clinic with which he was familiar. When he spotted physician John Britton and his clinic escort, James Barrett, outside, he shot them both at close range with a shotgun. In addition to the two murders, Hill seriously wounded Barrett's wife. He was arrested that same day.

On December 6, 1994, Hill was sentenced to death by lethal injection under Florida law.

In a statement before his execution, Hill said that he felt no remorse for his actions, and that he expected "a great reward in Heaven". During his trial, the judge did not allow Hill to use an affirmative defense of justification. Hill said he viewed the acts as defensive rather than retributive. Hill left behind a manuscript manifesto [ [http://www.armyofgod.com/PHillbookIntro.html "Mix My Blood with the Blood of the Unborn"] ] which his backers promised him they would publish. That manifesto and his address to the jury that convicted him echoed the words of John Brown, [cite_news|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60C14FC3F5A0C778CDDA80994DC494D81 | author=Mireya Navarro |title=Jury Recommends Death Penalty for Abortion Foe Convicted in 2 Killings in Florida |work=The New York Times |date=November 4, 1994 |page=A20] who had attempted to incite a violent insurrection to end slavery in the United States. Hill was not apologetic for the killings, and in his last words he encouraged others who believe abortion is an illegitimate use of lethal force to "do what you have to do to stop it". [http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/hill873.htm Paul Jennings Hill #873] ] [ [http://armyofgod.com/Paulhillindex.html The Authorized Paul Hill Website] ] [ [http://www.fadp.org/news/PensacolaNewsJournal-20030824.htm "Hill lives in world of black and white"] by Brett Norman from "Pensacola News Journal" (August 24, 2003)] [ [http://s155777461.onlinehome.us/docs/html/gnlg/gnlg.html "Lone Gunners for Jesus: Letters to Paul J. Hill"] by Presbyterian writer and theonomist Gary North (critical response to Hill)] [ [http://www.credenda.org/issues/9-4disputatio.php A letter to the editors] of "Credenda/Agenda" magazine by Hill, with a critical response from Douglas Wilson]

Hill died by lethal injection in Florida State Prison on September 3, 2003.

ee also

* List of individuals executed in Florida

References

External links

* [http://www.armyofgod.com/Paulhillindex.html The Authorized Paul Hill website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6DHvYUQQSE Paul Hill's last interview with Life Dynamics]
* [http://www.dc.state.fl.us/InmateReleases/inmateaction.asp?DataAction=GetInmate&DCNumber=459364 Inmate Release Information Detail - Inmate 459364] . "Florida Department of Corrections". Retrieved on 2008-05-29.