SOPHIA MARTINEZ - 18 yo (2000) - Berkley executed -

William Berkley, convicted of the 2000 rape and murder of an
18-year-old woman, was executed in Texas by lethal injection on
Thursday, the state's sixth execution this year, prison officials said.Berkley,
31, who was convicted in 2002 of the rape and murder of Sophia
Martinez, was pronounced dead at 6:18 pm (2318 GMT).

Martinez's
mother and two sisters attended the execution, as did two friends of
Berkley and a woman identified as his spiritual advisor, authorities
said.In his final statement, Berkley offered no apology for the
crime of which he was convicted."Samantha, I love you with all my
heart and soul," he said, addressing one of his friends. "Death before
dishonor. Warden, let her rip," he said.Born in Germany, where
his father was serving in the military, Berkley was arrested in 2000 for
the kidnap, rape and murder of Martinez.Her body was found the
day after her murder in the desert, with five bullet wounds to the head.Days
before his execution, Berkley told local media he was innocent.But
Texas prosecutors said Martinez's car keys were found at Berkley's
house, the bullets used against her came from a gun belonging to
Berkley's father, and his DNA was found on Martinez's body.Nine
more executions are scheduled in Texas in the next three months.
Berkley's execution was the 14th in the United States this year.