Supreme Court Denies Appeal For An Already Newly Dead Inmate

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/02/02/3237571/missouri-executes-man-appeal-pending-supreme-court/

This has to be one of the most "what the hell?" moments I've ever read or seen.  Yes, so the Supreme Court denied his appeal, but four minutes AFTER the guy was already dragged away and executed.  What would they have done if a hearing for his appeal had been granted after he was dead?  "Whoops?"