International Courant
A state choose in Texas has made a last-minute resolution to pause the execution of Robert Roberson, a person convicted in a controversial shaken child syndrome case.
Roberson is believed to be the primary particular person ever sentenced to dying in america for an alleged homicide linked to the syndrome.
However on Thursday, with simply hours to go earlier than the sentence was carried out, Travis County Civil District Court docket Choose Jessica Mangrum issued a brief restraining order halting the execution.
Roberson was convicted of homicide in 2003 for the dying of his two-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis a yr earlier.
However he has vigorously maintained his innocence. Consultants have additionally solid doubt on the proof used to convict him, and the last-minute order has introduced aid to those that believed the execution would represent a miscarriage of justice.
“He is an harmless man, and we’re about to kill him for one thing he did not do,” mentioned Brian Wharton, the lead detective who investigated Curtis’ dying. He has since turn into an outspoken advocate for commuting Roberson’s sentence.
Texas lawmakers meet with Robert Roberson at a jail in Livingston, Texas, on September 27 (Felony Justice Reform Caucus by way of AP Photograph)
On the coronary heart of the case was prosecutors’ allegation that the boy Curtis died of shaken child syndrome, a phrase used to explain head trauma ensuing from the abuse of kids beneath the age of 5.
Nevertheless, critics have dismissed shaken child syndrome as an unproven prognosis primarily based on outdated science and research of questionable accuracy.
In January 2002, Roberson took his daughter to the emergency room, the place scans confirmed inside mind trauma. Curtis had had a fever within the days earlier than, and Roberson mentioned she fell away from bed.
Some medical consultants have prompt she possible died of problems from pneumonia reasonably than abuse by Roberson, as prosecutors alleged.
His case has drawn nationwide consideration to Texas, the place a gaggle together with conservative lawmakers, felony justice reform advocates and medical officers have questioned Roberson’s guilt.
Roberson’s attorneys additionally argued that authorities misinterpreted the signs of their consumer’s autism as an absence of emotion after Curtis’ dying.
Prosecutors had highlighted Roberson’s apparently stoic nature as proof of his guilt. However since his conviction, Roberson has been recognized with autism, which might have an effect on the best way individuals specific themselves.
“Texas plans to execute Robert Roberson subsequent Thursday – regardless of a conviction primarily based on junk science. Even former investigators on his case imagine Roberson is harmless,” the state department of the American Civil Liberties Union mentioned in a social media put up final week.
Inform Governor Abbott to cease Robert Roberson’s execution tonight.
Roberson was convicted of junk science. The lead detective now says he needs to be free. High Republican Social gathering lawmakers need the execution stopped.
The governor can cease this. Let Abbott know:
— ACLU of Texas (@ACLUTx) October 17, 2024
Nevertheless, Thursday’s execution was halted after a committee within the Republican-controlled Home of Representatives petitioned for a restraining order in an effort to purchase extra time.
A variety of lawmakers within the Texas Home chamber — each Republicans and Democrats — had lobbied to revisit the matter.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had nonetheless denied Roberson’s request for clemency on Wednesday, and the U.S. Supreme Court docket earlier on Thursday denied a request for a keep of execution.
Robertson was anticipated to die by deadly injection Thursday at a state jail in Huntsville, Texas.
The usage of deadly injections as a type of execution stays controversial within the US and has resulted in quite a few “failed” makes an attempt that critics say have brought on pointless struggling for these sentenced.
A 2023 Gallup ballot discovered that folks within the U.S. proceed to assist the dying penalty for these convicted of homicide by a margin of 53 to 44 %. Nevertheless, 50 % of respondents mentioned the dying penalty was utilized unfairly, whereas 47 % mentioned it was utilized pretty.
Texas choose orders pause on controversial execution of ‘shaken child’ | Demise penalty information
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