Melissa Lucio’s lawyers and attorneys celebrate the court’s decision. Photo: Reuters
The highest criminal court in Texas has ordered a halt to the execution of a Hispanic mother of 14 children, Melissa Lucio, who was convicted of the murder of his 2-year-old daughter more than a decade ago in a case that caused two-party outrage.
The mother has long maintained her innocence, and calls for mercy are rampant in Texas, even to dozens of Democratic and Republican state legislatorswhen new evidence and expert testimony emerged put strong doubt on his guilt.
Lucio’s defenders showed a poster in court, demanding justice. Photo: AP
In a three page decision that ordered the stay of enforcement fixed for Wednesdaythe Court of Criminal Appeals determined that some of the claims filed by his attorneys should be considered by the court of first instance.
Those claims include that prosecutors may have used false testimony, that previously unavailable scientific evidence may have thwarted his conviction, and that prosecutors withheld other evidence that hopefully in his favor.
Melissa Lucio and her baby, in a photo file moved by her defense. Image: file. (
The case will now go back to a lower court to resolve those issues, postponement of execution indefinitely. Lucio would have been the first Hispanic woman killed in Texas.
The case has garnered national attention, including a documentary film, because Lucio’s lawyers argued that the evidence was presented at trial they broke the case of murder for the death of his daughter Mariah.
“I thank God for my life,” Lucio said in a statement released by his lawyers. “I am grateful that the court gave me the opportunity live and prove my innocence. Mariah is in my heart now and always, “she said, referring to her deceased baby.
Melissa Lucio, in jail. Photo: archive
The case
Mariah died at home two days after what Lucio and his children said a fall down the stairs as they move between departments. According to the autopsy, the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
Lucius was found guilty beaten his son to death partly based on his own statements during the interrogation of five hours just after Mariah’s death in 2007.
Lucio’s lawyers have refuted those statements, disputing the apparent confession. is forcedand presented expert opinions showing that the type of bruises observed on Mariah’s body and the type of trauma that caused her death may caused by the fall.
Under the court’s decision on Monday, a lower court will now conduct a hearing to consider the new evidence and determine if a new trial is needed.
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Source: Clarin