Robert Roberson, who was sentenced to demise for the homicide of his daughter, has been given a last-minute reprieve by the US Supreme Courtroom.
In an unprecedented flip of occasions, the execution of the primary particular person to ever be convicted of the now debunked ‘shaken child syndrome’, was granted a brief maintain late Thursday, October 19, following a day of forwards and backwards between prosecutors, the Supreme Courtroom of Texas, the US Supreme Courtroom, and campaigners for Roberson’s launch.
Greater than 20 years in the past, Roberson was discovered responsible of the homicide of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, based mostly on the testimony from a paediatrician who described swelling and haemorrhages in her mind that supported a ‘shaken child syndrome’ analysis, despite the fact that there was then little proof that the really syndrome existed.
Reprieve granted because of ‘junk science’ proof
The analysis of Nikki’s physique, now dubbed ‘junk science’ by many medical professionals, coupled with the truth that Roberson had not been identified on the time of autism, inflicting him to not present any visible indicators of regret, swayed a Texas jury to return a responsible verdict.
Following a roller-coaster-ride of a day, a brief maintain order got here by means of lower than two hours earlier than Roberson was scheduled to be executed. Shortly after, nonetheless, the Texas Courtroom of Legal Appeals reversed it, placing the execution again on monitor. In response, state lawmakers shortly requested a brief keep by the state’s Supreme Courtroom, which ultimately they granted.
Submit-mortem signifies Demise Row dad harmless
A medical knowledgeable who carried out a second autopsy re-examined Nikki’s lung tissue and stated they discovered that persistent viral pneumonia and acute bacterial pneumonia have been damaging her lungs, inflicting sepsis after which septic shock, seemingly resulting in important organ failure and her eventual demise.
In his plea to the Supreme Courtroom to halt the execution, Roberson had argued that his federal due course of rights had been violated when Texas’ highest courtroom refused to contemplate his bid to reopen the case based mostly on ‘substantial new scientific and medical proof,’ that being that ‘shaken child syndrome’ had been discredited by the medical group.
A legislative listening to at which Roberson is ready to testify is scheduled for noon on Monday, October 21 within the Texas State Capitol.