Melissa Lucio’s son says ‘I don’t want to see my mom die’
Supporters of Texas woman Melissa Lucio, who is on death row, held rallies in 16 cities across the United States ahead of a clemency hearing later today.
The 53-year-old domestic violence victim and mother of 14 has been on death row since her trial in the 2007 death of her two-year-old daughter.
Governor Greg Abbot is increasingly being asked to grant clemency to Lucio, who faces execution later this month.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is set to take up his case on Monday, which could decide Lucio’s fate. If executed, she would be the first Latina executed in Texas and the first woman executed in the state since 2014.
Her lawyers argue that she “falsely” admitted to killing her daughter Mariah after hours of intense police questioning and that, in fact, the two-year-old girl died when she fell down a steep staircase outside her apartment in Harlingen, South from Texas.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is among those advocating for Lucio’s life.
Family relies on faith for Lucio’s return home
Speaking at a vigil held Friday for Melissa Lucio in San Juan, Texas, her sister Sonya Alvarez told KHOU-TV, “We are so thankful. We couldn’t handle this alone… I have faith that our sister will come home”.
Friends and family gathered at the Basílica Nacional Santuario de Nuestra Señora de San Juan del Valle for the vigil, which is among many in support of Ms. Lucio.
Esperanza “Hope” Treviño, the 77-year-old mother of Ms. Lucio, was photographed at the vigil praying for her daughter, who would become the first Latina to be executed in Texas and the first woman elected in the state since 2014 if a last minute appeal fails.
Gino Spocchia25 April 2022 11:28
Texas board will consider Lucio’s case
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will consider a request to commute Melissa Lucio’s death sentence to life in prison or to grant her a 120-day stay of execution. However, any decision by the parole board will need the approval of Texas Governor Gregg Abbott. The Republican has only granted clemency to a single death row inmate since he took office in 2015.
Appeals seeking to stop Ms. Lucio’s execution, currently scheduled for Wednesday, are also pending in state and federal courts.
Additional information from The Associated Press.
Gino Spocchia25 April 2022 11:03
Jurors and prosecutors expressed concern about the case
Nearly half of the jurors who sentenced Melissa Lucio to death have since called for her execution to be halted and for a new trial to be held for the 53-year-old.
The prosecutor in the case, Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz, also said earlier this month that he did not “disagree with all the scrutiny this case is receiving. I welcome that.”
During a recent Texas House committee hearing on Ms. Lucio’s case, Mr. Saenz initially rejected requests to use his power to stop the execution, before saying later that he would intervene if the courts did not. they acted
Lucio, whose lawyers say evidence shows she did not cause her two-year-old daughter’s death in 2007, is now subject to a clemency hearing on Monday.
Additional information from The Associated Press.
Gino Spocchia25 April 2022 10:36
EU asks Texas governor to grant Lucio clemency
The European Union (EU) has called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to reverse his state’s death sentence against Melissa Lucio.
French Ambassador to the US Philippe Etienne and EU Ambassador to the US Stavros Lambrinidis jointly signed a statement on behalf of the EU calling on Mr Abbott to grant Lucio clemency .
“As you know, the European Union and its member states have abolished the use of the death penalty in all circumstances,” the letter says.
“We firmly believe that it is possible to offer unconditional support to all victims of abuse and crime, as well as their families, by rigorously and effectively prosecuting and punishing perpetrators, outside the framework of the death penalty,” it said.
Johanna Chisholm has more.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 April 2022 09:40
Supporters Hold ‘Free Melissa Lucio’ Rally
Supporters held rallies across the United States over the weekend urging Texas Governor Greg Abbott to spare the life of Melissa Lucio, who is on death row after being convicted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Mariah. years, in 2007.
During the demonstrations, organizers attempted to collect signatures for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Mr. Abbott.
Rallies were planned in Houston, Atlanta, Austin and 13 other states. “Melissa was questioned for almost seven hours, just minutes after she was taken into custody following the death of her daughter,” rally organizer Cody Huffman told KSAT-TV.
“Nothing in there proves that she physically did anything to commit the crime for which she was convicted. And, but there is a lot of evidence that shows that she is innocent of the crime,” Huffman added.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 April 2022 09:00
Melissa Lucio’s son begs Texas to stop his execution
Bobby Alvarez has been running from one pillar to another to get the Texas authorities to stop the execution of his mother, Melissa Lucio, scheduled for April 27.
Lucio, the only Hispanic woman on death row in Texas, has always maintained that she was wrongly convicted of the 2007 murder of her two-year-old daughter Mariah.
“It was very difficult to be put in foster care… you feel so alone and that no one is there for you. I cried every night wanting to go back to her, wanting my parents to come for us. She knew they wouldn’t come, but there was always that hope,” she said. the independent.
The 53-year-old mother of 14, along with several medical experts who were not heard at her trial, say the girl actually died from injuries caused by an accidental fall down the stairs two days before her death.
Melissa Lucio’s son begs Texas to stop his execution scheduled for next week
EXCLUSIVE: In just six days, Melissa Lucio will be strapped to a stretcher and injected with a lethal cocktail of drugs that will kill her for a murder she not only says she didn’t commit, but experts say didn’t even happen. . Her son, Bobby Alvarez, tells Rachel Sharp that she has never doubted her innocence and that he has spent the last 15 years “wanting my mom back.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 April 2022 08:13
welcome to the independents coverage of the clemency hearing on the imminent execution of Texas mother Melissa Lucio and her supporters’ calls for her life to be spared.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar25 April 2022 07:38