(Image Source: The San Francisco Chronicle)

BY KYLIE MCGIVERN 

You're watching multisource US video news analysis from Newsy.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice will no longer grant the wish of a last meal to the condemned. Not unless Brian Price, a former death row chef, can cook up a compromise.

CNN has more.

Reporter: “Price argues the tradition of the last meal should continue, but those against counter by saying victims didn’t receive a last meal, and inmates shouldn’t either.”
Reporter to Price: “They don’t deserve anything, according to some people. What do you say to that?”
Price: “It’s society showing their compassionate side.”

Price wrote a book called, “Meals to Die For.” He spent 12 years cooking last meals during his time as an inmate. Now he wants to go back to prison to cook final meals for free, calling the state’s move “cold-hearted.”

KRIV explains why the state ditched the practice.

Reporter: “The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has terminated the tradition of delivering a requested last meal, a reaction to the outrage of State Senator John Whitmire, who was angered by the eight course supper that reportedly went untouched by executed murderer Lawrence Russell Brewer.”

Brewer was a self-proclaimed white supremacist. He was sentenced to death for the murder of 49-year-old African American James Byrd Jr, who was dragged behind a pickup for two miles.

But even given the brutal nature of the killing, a writer for CultureMap says she’s surprised at the lack of protest to the state’s decision.

“Strangely, those you might expect to protest the move -- anti-capital punishment activists -- have actually welcomed the change, with many saying the last meal tradition gave an undeserved feeling of lenience to the proceedings.”

Price is offering to pay for the meals himself. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times Price’s proposal was...

“...‘a kind offer’ that the state did not intend to accept... ‘It's not the cost but rather the concept we're moving away from.’”


Transcript by Newsy.