Constitutional Law

Tell Gov. Perry: Stay the Execution of Henry Skinner

By Suzanne Ito, ACLU

Henry Skinner is scheduled for execution tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in Texas's death chamber in Huntsville, Texas. He was convicted of the 1993 murder of his girlfriend and her two adult sons.

But DNA evidence found at the crime scene could prove Skinner's innocence, which he has maintained all along. Skinner has been asking for this evidence to be tested for the past 10 years, but the courts have denied these requests. They assert the tests should have been done at his original trial. But Skinner's defense attorney refused to allow these items to be tested.

Yesterday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected Skinner's request for a reprieve while this DNA evidence is tested. Gov. Rick Perry and the U.S. Supreme Court are now Skinner's last chance.

Take action now. Contact Gov. Rick Perry's office asking him to grant a 30-day stay of execution so this crucial DNA evidence can be tested.

As the Austin American-Statesman pointed out today: "[T]he most ardent supporters of capital punishment — those most invested in making sure Texas does not execute an innocent person — are the ones who should be leading the call for the delay."

Texas executed Cameron Todd Willingham, a man we now know was probably innocent. We hope Texas won't make the same mistake again; not when it has a chance to right this wrong.

Full post as published by Blog of Rights on March 23, 2010 (boomark / email).