Texas executes man for 1988 killing of dep. sheriff

DALLAS (Reuters) - Texas executed a man by lethal injection on Wednesday for the 1988 murder of a deputy sheriff who had tried to pull him over when he was driving a stolen van.

Charles Edward Smith, 41, was sentenced to die for killing deputy sheriff Tim Hudson.

Hudson tried to stop Smith, who had escaped from a minimum-security prison in Kansas, when Smith was driving a stolen van and Smith responded by firing three shots into Hudson's car, fatally wounding him, according to prosecutors and media reports.

Smith was the 14th inmate put to death in Texas so far this year and the 393rd since the state resumed executions in 1982. Texas leads all U.S. states in executions, reflecting its conservative political outlook and high rates of violent crime.

Smith made no final statement.

For his last meal he requested nine tacos, nine enchiladas, French fries, 16 Pepsis, salad with ranch dressing, a bowl of picante sauce, beef fajitas, a bowl of shredded cheese, a strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and six jalapeno peppers.

Texas has scheduled 12 more executions this year.