UPDATE: She’s dead.
Governor Rick Perry decided it would be better for everyone if they went ahead and killed her.
So, she’s dead.
God damn it.
Frances Newton may be executed tomorrow night, despite the lack of
credible evidence of her guilt, an absurd prosecution theory, and
significant evidence of innocence.
The president of the American Bar Association has written the following to Gov. Rick Perry:
regarding Ms. Newton’s case has not yet been evaluated by Texas courts. This
new evidence includes forensic evidence and evidence of a lack of motive, both
of which are made more serious by Ms. Newton’s continuing and unwavering claim
of innocence…
[T]his
evidence was not discovered earlier because of the negligence of her
appointed lawyer… He did no investigation whatsoever, and therefore,
did not place before the jury the evidence that now casts doubt on Ms.
Newton’s involvement in this crime…
[C]ompelling new evidence has been discovered… we urge you to vacate her execution date so that the
newly discovered evidence can be tested and properly evaluated by Texas courts.
Amnesty International’s email form for contacting the Board of Prisons is here.
Given, the late hour, you can help flood the offices of the Governor and every other relevant elected official with emails here and forwarding the link around.
Should this woman really have to die because of other people’s incompetence?
You can also fax the Gov. Perry at (512) 463-1849 or simply, and perhaps most urgently, call the Governor’s office directly at (512) 463-2000.