Simplify the following text for a Grade 5 native English-speaking person.
Original: Sankofa was put to death following a series of last minute legal maneuvers , including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court , which declined to halt the execution in a 5-4 vote .
Simplified: Sankofa put to death after many legal tries by his lawyers to stop it . These including an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court .