75 Year Old Tommy Arthur Finally Executed For Crime Committed In 1982

Alabama executed death row inmate Tommy Arthur early Friday after a lengthy court battle that included multiple lethal injection delays.

Arthur, 75, was convicted in the 1982 murder-for-hire of romantic rival Troy Wicker. The inmate, who was nicknamed the "Houdini" of death row because he'd had seven prior execution dates postponed, died by lethal injection at the Holman Correctional Facility at Atmore.

The state set seven execution dates for Arthur between 2001 and 2016. All were delayed as a pro bono legal team fought his sentence.

Arthur, in a round of phone calls to reporters earlier this week, maintained he's innocence in the Wicker shooting telling the Associated Press, "I'm terrified, but there's nothing I can do. I've got hope in my legal team'.