Re: why do they sterilyze the needle before a lethal injection

Spencer,

Unfortunately, after some searching I couldn't find a definitive answer to your question.
I can tell you that needles almost always come already packaged as sterile (to protect the person doing the injection as well).
Maybe they use the same needle over again, but somehow I doubt it. 
Check out the movie from a couple of years ago called 'Dead Man Walking'--good movie with a 
fairly detailed lethal injection at the end.  It will add suspense to your bet as you watch it.