By Jolie McCullough
Texas Tribune
At a combative legislative hearing, the Cameron County district attorney indicated Tuesday he may step in and stop Melissa Lucio's April 27 execution, creating a new level of uncertainty in what many believe is the case of an innocent woman facing lethal injection.
Although he was not district attorney when Lucio was convicted, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz did request the execution date and has the power to withdraw the request. During a heated exchange with a bipartisan group of lawmakers pushing to halt Lucio’s execution, Saenz initially stated he would not intervene.
As outrage has built to a crescendo over Lucio’s case, Saenz has previously stated — and reaffirmed in the hearing — that he stood by the process that led to Lucio’s conviction and the many court rulings since that have upheld her death sentence.
But after about an hour of urging from the lawmakers, Saenz’s stance shifted. He said he believes his intervention will be unnecessary because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will likely stop Lucio’s execution. If it doesn’t, he said he would, though he didn’t provide details.
“If defendant Lucio does not get a stay by a certain day,” he said, “then I will do what I have to do and stop it.”
Because of Saenz’s conflicting statements, and without any court motions or rulings, it’s still not certain Lucio’s execution will be stopped. Lucio’s lawyer, Tivon Schardl, seemed skeptical outside the committee room but said he would take Saenz at his word. Saenz’s office did not immediately respond to questions following the hearing.
State Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican and chair of the interim Criminal Justice Reform Committee, said the lawmakers would hold Saenz to his word.
“My understanding of his remarks to the committee were that if we don’t get a stay or clemency issued … then he will step in and withdraw his request for an execution date,” Leach said after the hearing. “That was unequivocal to the committee, and we got it on tape.”
Reasonable doubts have lingered over Lucio’s guilt since the day 14 years ago she was convicted of murdering her daughter, questions that will remain even if her April execution date is canceled.
It’s widely debated whether the fatal head trauma that killed 2-year-old Mariah Alvarez was an accident, and, if it wasn’t, who inflicted the injury. The case against Lucio was built almost entirely around an ambiguous “confession” obtained after hours of police interrogation, and the judge at her trial barred expert testimony that might have explained why she would admit to police things she didn’t do.
For now, Texas plans to execute Lucio in two weeks. She would become the first Latina executed by the state in the modern era of the death penalty and the first woman killed by Texas since 2014.
At a combative legislative hearing, the Cameron County district attorney indicated Tuesday he may step in and stop Melissa Lucio's April 27 execution, creating a new level of uncertainty in what many believe is the case of an innocent woman facing lethal injection.
Although he was not district attorney when Lucio was convicted, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz did request the execution date and has the power to withdraw the request. During a heated exchange with a bipartisan group of lawmakers pushing to halt Lucio’s execution, Saenz initially stated he would not intervene.
As outrage has built to a crescendo over Lucio’s case, Saenz has previously stated — and reaffirmed in the hearing — that he stood by the process that led to Lucio’s conviction and the many court rulings since that have upheld her death sentence.
But after about an hour of urging from the lawmakers, Saenz’s stance shifted. He said he believes his intervention will be unnecessary because the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will likely stop Lucio’s execution. If it doesn’t, he said he would, though he didn’t provide details.
“If defendant Lucio does not get a stay by a certain day,” he said, “then I will do what I have to do and stop it.”
Because of Saenz’s conflicting statements, and without any court motions or rulings, it’s still not certain Lucio’s execution will be stopped. Lucio’s lawyer, Tivon Schardl, seemed skeptical outside the committee room but said he would take Saenz at his word. Saenz’s office did not immediately respond to questions following the hearing.
State Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican and chair of the interim Criminal Justice Reform Committee, said the lawmakers would hold Saenz to his word.
“My understanding of his remarks to the committee were that if we don’t get a stay or clemency issued … then he will step in and withdraw his request for an execution date,” Leach said after the hearing. “That was unequivocal to the committee, and we got it on tape.”
Reasonable doubts have lingered over Lucio’s guilt since the day 14 years ago she was convicted of murdering her daughter, questions that will remain even if her April execution date is canceled.
It’s widely debated whether the fatal head trauma that killed 2-year-old Mariah Alvarez was an accident, and, if it wasn’t, who inflicted the injury. The case against Lucio was built almost entirely around an ambiguous “confession” obtained after hours of police interrogation, and the judge at her trial barred expert testimony that might have explained why she would admit to police things she didn’t do.
For now, Texas plans to execute Lucio in two weeks. She would become the first Latina executed by the state in the modern era of the death penalty and the first woman killed by Texas since 2014.
16 comments:
Does Saenz have the guts to do what's right?
we shall see, Raza.
It sounds like these "suckers" on the committee bought that self serving documentary and obviously against the death penalty? I guess they can't think for themselves? My hat off to CCDA Luis Saenz for standing his ground. Life in prison, I can settle for that!
Can rely on Saenze the guy will piss on your back and tell you it’s raining!
CITY SPENDING MONEY OR GIVING IT AWAY.
YOU DO THE MATH.
10) Consideration and ACTION to award a 3-year term contract to Stryker Sales LLC to provide ProCare services on the Lucas devices and LifePak 15 devices, #LPC-46-0322, in the amount of $136,374.00, as budgeted. (Brownsville Fire Department)
La cagas Juan…. Abandonaste a la gente por unas monedas. La mentira Juan… really, mendigo?! La zúrras infeliz!!
Hurry up and push the syringe somebody!!
No sirve para nada ese vato! Saquenlo a la chingada! Nadamas sirve para defender a su familia. WIth him, there is NO JUSTICE in Cameron County, and I'm not talking about the Lucio case.
Fill the fucking syringe now and PUSH THE PLUNGER! Put this baby killer in the ground where IT belongs!
Luis Saenz DONT GIVE A FUCK FOLKS.NEVER HAS AND NVER WILL, GET REAL FOLKS. CACA
I didn't see this many advocates when the poor innocent toddler died under the watch of the mother. Melissa Lucio. The other adult children of Melissa Lucio don't ever talk about their sister! That child's grave has no tombstone to remember her by.
Why should they give any consideration to Lucio.
Execute her.
Lady should have ended her pregnancies. If she was going to kill her child she should have done it before its heart started beating. Either way she will burn where she belongs.
Abusive mothers always choose one of their kids to beat them up, damage them for life etc
She chose the baby.
It is her right as a mother, to do what she wants with her kids.
That is how life is.
Think about all the bad examples, bad language, bad actions we throw at our kids.... we want them to be like us....not better.
We buy them phones....to leave us alone. We do not set limits on them...too much energy.
The parents that want to set limits.....are doomed.
SAENZ IS A POLITICAL JUDICIAL HAZZARD.
HE WILL DO ANYTHING TO HELP HIMSELF POLITICALLY. JUST WATCH HIM STOP THE EXECUTION AND PAT HIMSELF IN THE BACK.
don't touch that
@ April 14, 2022 8:29 p.m.
Your way of thinking gives me the hee bee gee bees! Nobody should have a child so that they may abuse said child. Personally I am pro choice because I am willing to go to hell if I know that I can't provide a safe, stable, and loving place for my baby. All be damned because I would never subject my child to abuse. It is only the women who are crazy that would do such a things.
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