Death penalty in the United States: wave of support from celebrities and lawmakers for a mother of 14 children sentenced to death

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Death penalty in the United States: wave of support from celebrities and lawmakers for a mother of 14 children sentenced to death

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Texas lawmakers from both parties are praying with Melissa Lucio in a jail in Gatesville, Texas. Photo: AFP

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The imminent implementation of a mother of 14 childrensentenced to death for the murder of his two -year -old daughter in a controversial case, was released a wave of unity between personalities like Kim Kardashian who transcend the borders of the United States.

The execution date of Melissa Lucio is set for April 27 of the 2007 homicide of her two -year -old babyMariah, whose body was found in the family home covered with bruisesdays after he fell down the stairs.

Pregnant with twins at the time, this Mexican American had a life mark physical and sexual assault, drug addiction and economic instability. Police immediately suspected he had beaten his daughter and questioned her long hours after her death.

Melissa Lucio with two of her children in an image provided by Deputy Jeff Leach.  Photo: AFP

Melissa Lucio with two of her children in an image provided by Deputy Jeff Leach. Photo: AFP

suspicious confession

After saying “almost a hundred times he hasn’t done it”, three o’clock in the morning make a “completely extorted” confessionaccording to Sabrina Van Tassel, director of the documentary “The State of Texas vs. Melissa,” which premiered in 2020.

“I think I did,” he finally told officers who asked him about the bruises.

That confession is “the only thing they have against him”said Van Tassel, convinced that “nothing links Melissa Lucio to her son’s death, no DNA, no witnesses.”

During the trial, a doctor said it was the “worst” case of child abuse that I saw.

Melissa Lucio and her baby.  photo: AFP

Melissa Lucio and her baby. photo: AFP

But a physical disability of Mariah who slowed her walk, and was able to explain her fall, was ignored by experts, according to Lucio’s defense, who also argued that the bruises may have been caused by circulatory disease.

Prosecutor accused of extortion

None of Melissa’s children accused her of being violent. While the prosecutor was sentenced to imprisonment in the latter corruption and extortion.

A documentary later released a solidarity movement in favor of Lucio.

Kim Kardashian tweeted that there are "so many unresolved questions surrounding the case."  Photo: AP

Kim Kardashian tweeted that there are “so many unresolved questions surrounding the case.” Photo: AP

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who has tens of millions of followers, tweeted Wednesday that there is “too many unanswered questions around the case and the evidence used to convict him. “

Kardashian posted on Twitter a copy of the letter in which Lucio’s children are asking the Texas governor save your mother’s life.

“It is heartbreaking to read this letter from Melissa Lucio’s children begging the state not to kill their mother. There are so many unresolved questions surrounding this case and the evidence used to convict her,” he said. letter by Kim.

He added in a thread: “This is one of many reasons why I am against the death penaltyand to whom I pray that the requests of their children may be granted and their mother’s life saved. “

The governor’s letter

In the letter, that with the signatures of Lucio’s 12 sons and daughtersasks Governor Abbot to save the life of “our mother”.

“We ask for closure. We ask for peace,” they wrote.

“The death of our sister Mariah and the persecution of our parents destroyed our family. The wounds never fully heal. And probably never will.

“We ask that you never tear those wounds again. Please give us a chance for closure. Give us a chance for peace. Please let us reconcile Mariah’s death and remember her without this raw grief. , grief and pain. “

Lucio’s story has also fascinated the Latin American media, like this one the first Latina woman to be sentenced to death in Texasthe U.S. state that has taken the most people in the 21st century.

In France, former face-to-face candidate Christiane Taubira said Lucio was likely “victim of a miscarriage of justice”.

Moreover, one of the jurors who convicted him testified his “deep regret” in an editorial published on Sunday.

Lucio even garners the support of U.S. Republicans, traditional supporters of the death penalty.

About 80 congressmen from Texas of both sides They asked the authorities to stay on his execution.

Lucio is even gaining the support of U.S. Republicans.  Photo: AFP

Lucio is even gaining the support of U.S. Republicans. Photo: AFP

Many have already visited him in prison. “As a conservative Republican who has long been in favor of the death penalty, I have never seen a case more troubling than Melissa Lucio,” said one of them, Jeff Leach.

The detainee was “shocked” at the support movement, according to his son John Lucio.

“I couldn’t believe it” when she showed him messages from celebrities like Kim Kardashian.

in the last 15 years became “very difficult”remembers this 32-year-old man, a teenager when the tragedy happened and who had to “face” the death of his sister at the time that he saw that his mother was “accused for it”.

But this year ”is the hardest since we received the implementation date in January“, explains John Lucio, who says he has always believed in his innocence.

He is convinced that his mother will never be convicted “if I have money”.

The case sheds light on the problem of the false confessions. It’s hard to estimate how many there are, but according to data from the Innocence Project, which fights judicial wrongdoings, of the four people wrongly convicted and acquitted thanks to DNA evidence, one has confessed to the crime.

In homicide cases, the number rises to 60%, according to Saul Kassin, a psychology professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

And someone, like Lucio, has experienced trauma and violence, is “less resistantmore likely to give up, less likely to tolerate the stress of an interrogation, ”and therefore more likely to accept responsibility for a crime they didn’t commit, he said.

Lucio has exhausted his legal remediesbut his team filed an application for tolerance, which is usually resolved until a few days before execution. Prosecutors can also revoke the enforcement order and agree to re-investigate the case, according to the Houston Chronicle.

And if all else fails, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has the authority to postpone death by Lucius.

The governor, a staunch supporter of the death penalty, only granted clemency on one occasion.

By Léa Dauple, AFP

ap

Source: Clarin

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