Brandon Bernard’s Execution Stirs Up Twitter; Kim Kardashian, Netizens Call For System Reform

Kim Kardashian, and many netizens, took their sentiments to Twitter following the execution of Brandon Bernard and called for justice system reform.

Bernard was convicted for a double murder in Texas in 1999, NBC News reported. He was 18 when he took part in a crime that cost the lives of Todd and Stacie Bagley.

Kim Kardashian, an advocate for Brandon and the Criminal Justice Reform, shared how devastated she was about the execution in a series of tweets. She described Bernard as a reformed person and called for the justice system to change.

"I'm so messed up right now," Kardashian wrote. "They killed Brandon. He was such a reformed person."

Several netizens also reacted following Bernard’s execution, with “Brandon” on their tweets. Currently, the topic already has more than 1.25 million tweets.

Amid the overflowing messages of sympathy, several netizens called for a change in the justice system and to abolish the death penalty.

“My heart hurts hearing what happened with Brandon Bernard and I’m [absolutely] disgusted with our legal system and we need a change,” @zachclayton wrote.

“Once again, the justice system has failed us. Abolish the death penalty,” another netizen tweeted.

“Rest in power, Brandon. Abolish the death penalty,” another netizen said.

One netizen described Bernard’s execution as “disgusting and downright unjust.” He pleaded for help on behalf of more people who are going through a similar experience.

Bernard, 40, was executed Thursday, at the federal death chamber in Indiana, The Texas Tribune reported. Mike Balsamo, lead Justice Dept. and federal law enforcement reporter, shared to the public the confirmation from the Bureau of Prisons that Bernard was pronounced dead at 9:27 p.m.

In a separate tweet, Balsamo shared the statements of Todd and Stacie Bagley’s family and friends, which was provided by the Bureau of Prisons after the execution. The family thanked President Donald Trump, Attorney General William H. Barr and the Department of Justice for giving them closure.

“Please remember that the lives of family and friends were shattered and we all have grieved for 21 years waiting for justice to finally be served,” said a joint statement by Georgia A. Bagley, family and friends.

“I pray that Brandon has accepted Christ as his Savior, because if he has, Todd and Stacie will welcome him into Heaven with love and forgives,” Charles Woodward, Stacie's father, their family and friends, said in a separate statement.

Woodward also emphasized that God would forgive sins; however, the consequences of such sins would always play out.