Ramiro Gonzales’ request to delay his execution to donate a kidney was denied by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
HOUSTON — An appeals courtroom on Monday stayed this week’s execution of a loss of life row inmate who had raised questions on whether or not prosecutors had offered false and inaccurate testimony from an knowledgeable on whether or not he would commit extra crimes sooner or later.
Ramiro Gonzales, 39, had been set to obtain a deadly injection for fatally capturing Bridget Townsend. Gonzales kidnapped Townsend, who was the girlfriend of his drug seller, from a Bandera County residence in January 2001 after stealing medication and cash. He later took her to his household’s ranch in neighboring Medina County, the place he sexually assaulted the 18-year-old earlier than killing her. Her stays weren’t discovered till almost two years later.
Gonzales’ attorneys had requested the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to remain his execution, arguing prosecutors offered false testimony that wrongly claimed he can be a future hazard, a authorized discovering wanted to impose a loss of life sentence.
His attorneys had argued {that a} prosecution knowledgeable, psychiatrist Edward Gripon, had falsely testified that individuals who commit sexual assault “have an extremely high rate of … recidivism,” as excessive as 80%.
Gonzales’ attorneys argued subsequent evaluations by consultants and reporters discovered that no dependable statistical research had ever supported such a excessive recidivism price.
In its three-page order on Monday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals mentioned Gonzales’ attorneys had made adequate declare “showing that testimony of recidivism rates Gripon gave at trial were false and … that false testimony could have affected the jury’s answer to the future dangerousness question at punishment.”
The appeals courtroom ordered Gonzales’ case to be despatched to his trial courtroom for additional evaluation.
It was not instantly identified if the Texas Attorney General’s Office would attraction the execution keep. An company spokesman didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail in search of remark.
After re-evaluating Gonzales earlier this yr, Gripon says his prediction the inmate can be a future hazard was flawed, including Gonzales has taken accountability for what he did and has expressed regret.
The appeals courtroom’s order took place a few hours after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied a request by Gonzales’ attorneys to commute his loss of life sentence to a lesser penalty or delay his execution for 180 days so he might donate a kidney to somebody who may have it.
Gonzales had additionally requested Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to delay his execution, for 30 days, so he might donate a kidney.
Gonzales’ attorneys say the kidney donation is a part of his effort to atone for his crimes.
“I’m sorry, deeply sorry, that I took what was so valuable to you and I do know there’s nothing I can do or say to make it higher.
I’ve completely no excuse for what I’ve finished and there’s completely nobody guilty however me,” Gonzales wrote in a letter to Townsend’s household.
If his execution had proceeded, Gonzales had requested that his religious adviser be allowed within the loss of life chamber so she will pray aloud, maintain his hand and place her different hand on his chest.
Texas jail officers objected to the hand holding request, citing safety considerations, however a federal decide in Houston mentioned in a short lived order the execution might solely go ahead if all of Gonzales’ spiritual lodging had been granted.
Prosecutors described Gonzales as a sexual predator who advised police he ignored her pleas to spare her life.
Townsend’s physique wasn’t discovered till October 2002, when Gonzales led authorities to her stays after receiving two life sentences for kidnapping and raping one other girl.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link