Ronnie Lee Gardner is a 49-year-old who was sentenced to death in 1985 for killing an attorney during a failed escape attempt from custody.<br /><br />He's chosen the manner of his own execution.<br /><br />"I would like the firing squad, please" Gardner told the court.<br /><br />Gardner was about to go on trial for another murder in Salt Lake City's court of justice. But in the basement a female acquaintance slipped him a loaded gun and he tried, but failed to shoot his way out.<br /><br />Lawmakers in Utah actually stopped convicts electing to die by firing squad in 2004 - but because Gardners conviction was earlier, he's kept the right to choose.<br /><br />The victim's former girlfriend says he would not have wanted his killer to be executed.<br /><br />Gardner's lawyers will appeal to Utah's Suprme Court, hoping the sentence will be commuted to life without parol - but if that fails an execution date has been set for June 18. (24 April 2010)
