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Interview with Karl
March 2008
On the 18th March 2008 an interview conducted by Vivian White for the BBC's documentary series This World was broadcast on British television.
The full programme, Lethal Solution, investigated the facts, politics and opinion surrounding the administering of lethal injection for execution in America. The investigation followed in the wake of the 2007 decision by the Supreme Court to suspend its use whilst an investigation into possible civil rights infringements is carried out.
Karl was interviewed along with Carlton Turner and Bobby Woods, two other inmates held at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston. All have had a temporary stay of execution whilst the lethal injection investigation proceeds.
VW: “Karl Eugene Chamberlain. My name is Vivian White.”
KC: “Vivian?”
VW: “Did you kill a person?”
KC: “Yes.”
VW: “You did kill a person?”
KC: “The crime that I’m here for, that I’m guilty of, is rape and murder. Capital murder. “
VW: “You raped and murdered a woman?”
KC: “Yes sir. Yes sir.”
<footage of police car and blue flashing lights with voice-over>
KC: “I would like to say at this point that if I have any regret since December 1st 1991 it is that I did not get on the stand and look the victim’s family in the eyes and say look I’m very, very sorry. Your mother, your sister, your daughter died heroically proclaiming her love for you and I’m very very sorry.”
VW: “If you had to make a choice Karl Eugene Chamberlain of the method of your own execution which would it be?”
KC: “If I actually had a choice it would be anything but lethal injection.“
VW: “If you had a choice it would be anything but lethal injection?”
KC: Nods “Right, because the lethal injection makes it seem kind and nice, and there’s no nice way to murder somebody. “
VW: “Why should the Supreme Court be concerned about the question of the constitutional rights of people like yourself?”
KC: “Because we as a society are maturing just like individuals mature. We were executing people by electric chair not long ago. We were executing people by hanging, we were executing people by headsmen. I mean you can go back in history to where they had disembowelment and they actually focused on trying to torture people.”<footage of the Walls Unit - Texas' 'Death House' interior >
KC: “Even if I were dying a horrible death I would rather die an honest death because a lot of victims’ family members are really outraged about the kindness, and about the gentle way that we die. And if they were able to catch me and choke me to death I wouldn’t resist. Even true vengeance would be more humane than the system of death that we’ve created.”
all images ©BBC
“Next stop Texas. The reason? That’s simple. Half of the executions in the whole of the USA happen here. It’s Execution Central. Ask anyone you meet.”
Vivian White
“Past Walmart. Pass City Grill. Death Row. Can’t miss it.”
Response when camera crew ask for directions to Death Row.
“If it hadn’t been for the Supreme Court case the guys we’re going to meet would already be dead by lethal injection. They’re dead men walking.”
Vivian White
“ There is a comedian Ron White. He says that the rest of the nation is trying to put a stop to lethal injection. Texas has put it in an express lane.”
Woman interviewed on a Livingston street
"Over 400 inmates have been dispatched by the free drug cocktail here. But chiefly by the grace of the Supreme Court the three men I’m going to meet are still alive."
Vivian White