A KILLER insisted he was innocent as he was put to death despite efforts by Kim Kardashian and other celebrities to save him from execution.

Ivan Cantu died by lethal injection on Wednesday after he was sent to death row for the fatal shooting of his cousin, James Mosqueda, 27, and his cousin’s girlfriend, Amy Kitchen, 22.

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Ivan Cantu died by lethal injection at a state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, on WednesdayCredit: CBS

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Kim Kardashian and other celebrities tried to save the convicted killer from executionCredit: Alamy

Jane Fonda shared her support earlier this month for CantuCredit: Getty
 

In his final words from the execution chamber, he insisted several times that he was innocent of the killings.

“I’d like to address the Kitchens and Mosqueda families,” Cantu said.

“I want you to know that I never killed James and Amy.

“And if I did, if I knew who did, you would’ve been the first to know any information I would’ve had that would’ve helped to bring justice to James and Amy.”

However, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said Cantu had “finally met with justice” after more than two decades of courts “comprehensively reviewing” his case.

“My hopeful prayer is for the victims’ families, friends, and loved ones to find a long-awaited sense of peace,” Willis said in a statement.

For the last 20 years, the convicted killer had claimed that his conviction was based on false testimony and questionable evidence, according to CBS affiliate WJAX-TV.

Prosecutors said that in November 2000, Cantu killed his cousin and his girlfriend during an attempt to steal cocaine, marijuana, and money from Mosqueda’s north Dallas home.

However, the inmate believed that a rival drug dealer killed his cousin in a dispute over cash.

His case gained national attention after gaining support from Kardashian and other celebrities.

In January, the reality star tweeted about Cantu’s conviction to her 75.1 million followers.

“The prosecutor’s offices are beginning to recognize that there are a lot of mistakes in convictions,” she wrote.

“They encourage you to write into their integrity units about specific cases, so I am encouraging everyone to write in about the case of Ivan Cantu. The time to act to save Ivan Cantu is now!”

Hours before his death, Kardashian was calling on Governor Greg Abbott to give the inmate a 30-day reprieve.

In an Instagram video posted by celebrity activist Jane Fonda, actor Martin Sheen also implored fans to add their names to a petition to have Cantu’s case re-examined.

Cantu’s was the first execution in Texas this year.

Hours before the execution, Cantu’s attorney, Gena Bunn, said she would not be submitting a final appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court as she “couldn’t find a viable path” in which the case could be reviewed by the high court.

On Tuesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Cantu’s new evidence was “not credible” and “none of it undermines the critical incriminating evidence against Cantu.”

“It’s my firm belief that justice has been done in this case and that a Collin County jury’s verdict should be carried out on February 28th,” District Attorney Willis told CNN.

FACING DEATH

Cantu’s was the second execution scheduled on Wednesday in the United States.

Thomas Creech, 73, was set to die by lethal injection at 10 am PST but it was called off by Josh Twalt, the director of the Idaho Department of Corrections.

“The medical team could not establish an IV line, rendering the execution unable to proceed,” the Idaho Department of Corrections said in a statement.

“As a result, the death warrant will expire. The State will consider next steps.”

Creech was convicted in November 1974 of five murders in three states.

Last month, Kenneth Smith became the first inmate to die by nitrogen gas.

Witnesses said the killer suffered for 22 minutes after the gas began to flow with one journalist branding it the “most violent execution” he had seen.

“Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step backward,” Smith said moments before inhaling the nitrogen gas.

“Humanity rose up….I am leaving with love, peace, and light…..I love you. Thank you for supporting me. I love all of you.”

He made an I love you sign with his left hand as his family looked on from the window of the death chamber.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall informed residents after Smith’s death that the state plans to carry out more death sentences using nitrogen gas.

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“As of last night, nitrogen hypoxia as a means of execution is no longer an untested method. It is a proven one,” Marshall said the morning after Smith’s execution.

Convicted murderer Alan Eugene Miller is scheduled to be the next death row inmate to die by nitrogen.

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Cantu was convicted of killing his cousin and his cousin’s girlfriend in November 2000Credit: AP

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A view of the Huntsville Texas death chamber pictured in 1997

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Kim Kardashian pleaded with Governor Greg Abbott to give the inmate a 30-day reprieve before he was injected