Another innocent executed in Texas
submitted by: Abolition UK
28th October 2009
It is with sadness that we bring the news that Reginald Blanton was executed on Tuesday evening, after spending eight years on Texas death for a crime he claims he did not commit.
The twenty-eight- year-old received a lethal injection for the April 2000 shooting death of Carlos Garza at the 22 year old man’s apartment. The execution took place despite evidence of innocence not being fully heard.
Reginald’s execution will certainly add more weight to the issue of innocents being executed, especially in the light of events regarding the execution of a Cameron Todd Willingham. William was executed in Texas in February 2004 for arson which caused the deaths of his three children. He professed his innocence from his arrest to the very end.
Dr Craig Beyler, the investigator hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to review Cameron Willingham’s case, recently released his report in which he found that “a finding of arson could not be sustained” by a scientific analysis. He concluded that the fire was accidental and not arson.
Abolitionist groups are calling for a moratorium on executions in Texas, a move which we feel will be challenged at every step of the way by what has become the U.S execution capital. It begs the question, why would they oppose it? Unless they have something to hide, of course.
In hope and solidarity
Joanne Royston
Abolition UK
