Texas: Execution of Autistic Inmate Narrowly Halted by Court
On October 21, following the involvement of certain parliamentary committee members, judges agreed to summon a death row inmate for a hearing. What will the outcome of this session be?
A dramatic twist has unfolded for Robert Roberson, a Texas death row inmate, as the Texas Supreme Court has halted his scheduled execution on October 17.
## A Contested Diagnosis
Robert Roberson, 57, was convicted for the 2002 death of his daughter, who was initially believed to have died from shaken baby syndrome. However, his defenders challenge this diagnosis, which was made when his daughter Nikki was brought to the emergency room in critical condition. They argue that Nikki actually died from severe pneumonia that went undetected at the time and was exacerbated by inappropriate medical treatment. Additionally, Roberson’s autism, diagnosed in 2018, was mistakenly perceived as indifference, influencing the jury’s decision. “There was no crime, just the tragic death from natural causes of a little girl,” his attorneys emphasized.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court of Texas has stayed #RobertRoberson’s Oct. 17 execution. pic.twitter.com/TFAuTHQ7Nb
— Innocence Project (@innocence) October 18, 2024
## A Hope for Roberson
Parliamentary committee members succeeded in persuading the judges to summon Roberson for a hearing on October 21. “We look forward to welcoming him at the Texas Capitol and finally giving him and the truth a chance to be heard,” stated legislators Joe Moody and Jeff Leach.
## A Judicial Precedent
Roberson’s defenders also cite a recent Texas appeals court decision that overturned a 2000 conviction based on shaken baby syndrome, recognizing that scientific understanding has evolved. This precedent could pave the way for a new trial for Roberson.