Melissa Lucio execution: White House won’t be drawn in on case as international pressure grows
Latest developments in Melissa Lucio case
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There are growing calls on Texas Governor Greg Abbot to grant clemency to Melissa Lucio who faces execution later this month. European nations, a juror, Kim Kardashian, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are among those pleading for Lucio’s life.
The 53-year-old domestic violence victim and mother of 14 has been on death row since her trial over the 2007 death of her two-year-old daughter.
Her lawyers argue she “falsely” admitted to killing Mariah after hours of intense police questioning and that she died from falling down a steep staircase outside their apartment in Harlingen, South Texas, and not from being beaten.
Worn down by her grief and abuse throughout her life, Lucio admitted to a crime she didn’t commit during the aggressive interrogation, her lawyers say.
On 18 October, the US Supreme Court denied a petition to hear Lucio’s case, paving the way for the state of Texas to set the date for her execution — to be carried out by lethal injection on 27 April.
Writing for The Independent, an expert in false confessions says Texas is executing an innocent woman in one of the most tragic cases they have seen in their career.
Breaking society’s expectations: Why some women end up on death row
Women are vastly outnumbered by men on death row across America. But experts say the small number who are sentenced to death usually break society’s expectations of a ‘good woman’. Melissa Lucio is one of them as Rachel Sharp explains.
How the ‘femme fatale’ stereotype is dooming women to death row in the US
Women are vastly outnumbered by men on death row across America. But experts say the small number who are sentenced to death usually break society’s expectations of a ‘good woman’, Rachel Sharp reports
My mother is not a monster, says Melissa Lucio's eldest son John
My mother is not a monster, says eldest son JohnMelissa Lucio’s eldest son John says his main fight right now is to stop 27 April - the date for her mother’s execution, from arriving.“I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it,” an emotional Mr Lucio told WFAA.
“The picture they had of my mom was that she was a monster, not the mother,” he added.
According to Mr Lucio, nearly 90 lawmakers across the party line have appealed to the governor for granting clemency.“The picture they had of my mom was that she was a monster, not the mother,” Mr Lucio said.
Voices: I’m an expert in false confessions. Texas is executing an innocent woman
Gisli H Gudjonsson writes that the Melissa Lucio case is one of the most tragic she has come across in her 40-year career.
I’m an expert on false confessions. Texas is about to execute an innocent woman
This is one of the most tragic cases I’ve come across in my 40-year career
Why end the death penalty in the US?
The Independent and the nonprofit Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) have launched a joint campaign calling for an end to the death penalty in the US. The RBIJ has attracted more than 150 well-known signatories to their Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty - with The Independent as the latest on the list. We join high-profile executives like Ariana Huffington, Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson as part of this initiative and are making a pledge to highlight the injustices of the death penalty in our coverage.
Editorial: Why it is beyond time for the US to end the death penalty
Editorial: The Independent is adding its voice to a campaign backed by Sheryl Sandberg and Sir Richard Branson
Where is the death penalty still used in America?
Twenty-seven states across America still have the death penalty.
They are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky. Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Nathan Place and Helen Elfer look at where and how often the death penalty is still used in the United States.
American death map: Which US states have capital punishment and who uses it the most?
Many object to the inconsistency with which the US death penalty is applied across the country
Why people are rallying to stop the execution of Melissa Lucio in Texas
Supporters ranging from Kim Kardashian to Texas Republicans calling for halt to execution, Josh Marcus explains why the case is attracting so much attention.
Kim Kardashian and others are rallying to stop ‘tragic’ execution of Melissa Lucio
Supporters ranging from Kim Kardashian to Texas Republicans calling for halt to execution, Josh Marcus reports
Kim Kardashian shares ‘heartbreaking’ letter by Melissa Lucio’s children
Kim Kardashian has shared a letter from Melissa Lucio’s children, as calls are mounting for Lucio’s planned execution in Texas to be stopped.
“So heartbreaking to read this letter from Melissa Lucio’s children begging for the state not to kill their mother,” Kardashian tweeted on Thursday (7 April) along with the letter.
“There are so many unresolved questions surrounding this case and the evidence that was used to convict her.”
Clémence Michallon has the story.
Kim Kardashian shares ‘heartbreaking’ letter in bid to stop Melissa Lucio’s execution
There have been growing calls to cancel or commute Lucio’s death sentence
Texas lawmakers meet and pray with Lucio, pledging to help save her life
A bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers visited Melissa Lucio on death row as part of an effort to top her execution amid doubts about whether she fatally beat her two-year-old daughter.
State Representatives Jeff Leach, a Republican, and Joe Moody, a Democrat, led the group on Wednesday to the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas, where the state houses women on death row.
Texas lawmakers meet and pray with Melissa Lucio on death row as execution looms
‘We’re more resolute and committed than ever to fighting over the next three weeks to save her life’ says Rep Jeff Leach
‘Today might be the last genuine human contact she has before the state kills her'
Democrat State Representative Joe Moody tweeted on Wednesday: “3 weeks ago I watched #MelissaLucio on tv, moved by her story. Today, 6 other reps and I met her in person. She prayed with us & hugged us; today might be the last genuine human contact she has before the state kills her. Three more weeks is all we have to save her life.”
State Rep Sherman: 'Our hope is Lucio will be released ... and justice will prevail’
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