Oh my God, Perry communited a Death Sentence.

[softheart]

I was shocked when I read this, Perry finally did something right.

softie




Harris County inmate with mental retardation now will serve life

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Friday, March 12, 2004

Gov. Rick Perry has commuted the death sentence of a Harris County inmate who has been found to have mental retardation. It's the first time Perry has reduced a death sentence since becoming governor in 2000.

Robert Smith, also known as Robert Lee Johnson, was sentenced to death for the 1990 murder of James Wilcox. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Smith and an unknown accomplice were fleeing from a robbery when they came upon Wilcox, a homeless man who was living in his truck. Prison records show that Smith shot Wilcox, and was later captured.

Smith appealed to have his death sentence set aside after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that it is unconstitutional to execute killers with mental retardation.

A Harris County judge found Smith to have mental retardation and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that his sentence be commuted. Harris County prosecutors agreed.

[NatureJunkee]

Softie: I understand your point, and I know the alternative is worse--but as a Texan, it is embarrassing to me that it makes national news when our Governor decides to take a stand IN ONE CASE against executing someone with mental retardation. Why is this person not culpable enough to pay with his life, yet culpable enough to be sentenced to life in prison? I just don't get it . . . but I am glad the sentence was commuted.

Thanks for posting this.

[Kyla]

This is good news, and another precidence set. Just another small step. I hope that Perry remembers this next time he goes and executes someone. I guess he felt like he has done his good deed in 4 years, but there are alot of people on Texas Death Row with the exact same issues, and I pray he keeps that in mind when there dates are set.
I wish he would just commute them all though.

[CelliePieGrrl]

Originally Posted by Kyla

I wish he would just commute them all though.

Me too, Kyla.