Melissa Lucio execution: White House won’t be drawn in on case as international pressure grows
Latest developments in Melissa Lucio case
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Your support makes all the difference.There are growing calls on Texas Governor Greg Abbot to grant clemency to Melissa Lucio who faces execution later this month. European nations, a juror, Kim Kardashian, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are among those pleading for Lucio’s life.
The 53-year-old domestic violence victim and mother of 14 has been on death row since her trial over the 2007 death of her two-year-old daughter.
Her lawyers argue she “falsely” admitted to killing Mariah after hours of intense police questioning and that she died from falling down a steep staircase outside their apartment in Harlingen, South Texas, and not from being beaten.
Worn down by her grief and abuse throughout her life, Lucio admitted to a crime she didn’t commit during the aggressive interrogation, her lawyers say.
On 18 October, the US Supreme Court denied a petition to hear Lucio’s case, paving the way for the state of Texas to set the date for her execution — to be carried out by lethal injection on 27 April.
Writing for The Independent, an expert in false confessions says Texas is executing an innocent woman in one of the most tragic cases they have seen in their career.
Kim Kardashian shares ‘heartbreaking’ letter by Melissa Lucio’s children in bid to stop execution
Women on death row: How being a ‘bad mother, bad wife and bad woman’ became a death warrant
I’m an expert in false confessions who looked at Melissa Lucio’s case. Texas is executing an innocent woman- Juror who sentenced Melissa Lucio to death for daughter’s murder calls for retrial: ‘I was wrong’
Breaking society’s expectations: Why some women end up on death row
Women are vastly outnumbered by men on death row across America. But experts say the small number who are sentenced to death usually break society’s expectations of a ‘good woman’. Melissa Lucio is one of them as Rachel Sharp explains.
How the ‘femme fatale’ stereotype is dooming women to death row in the US
Women are vastly outnumbered by men on death row across America. But experts say the small number who are sentenced to death usually break society’s expectations of a ‘good woman’, Rachel Sharp reports
Melissa Lucio’s son hopes for clemency as execution date nears
Melissa Lucio’s eldest son says his mother is not a monster, as he and the rest of the family fight for her life with the clock ticking down to her scheduled execution date.
They know they face an uphill battle fighting for clemency but have gained the support of members of the jury from her trial, nearly 90 Texas lawmakers, and reality star and death row campaigner Kim Kardashian.
“My main fight right now is to stop April 27 from arriving,” John Lucio told WFAA. “I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it.”
Melissa Lucio’s son hopes for clemency as execution date nears
‘I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it,’ says John Lucio as his mother’s execution nears
Voices: I’m an expert in false confessions. Texas is executing an innocent woman
Gisli H Gudjonsson writes that the Melissa Lucio case is one of the most tragic she has come across in her 40-year career.
I’m an expert on false confessions. Texas is about to execute an innocent woman
This is one of the most tragic cases I’ve come across in my 40-year career
Why people are rallying to stop Melissa Lucio’s execution
Supporters ranging from Kim Kardashian to Texas Republicans calling for halt to execution, Josh Marcus reports.
Kim Kardashian and others are rallying to stop ‘tragic’ execution of Melissa Lucio
Supporters ranging from Kim Kardashian to Texas Republicans calling for halt to execution, Josh Marcus reports
Kim Kardashian shares ‘heartbreaking’ letter by Melissa Lucio’s children
Kim Kardashian has shared a letter from Melissa Lucio’s children, as calls are mounting for Lucio’s planned execution in Texas to be stopped.
“So heartbreaking to read this letter from Melissa Lucio’s children begging for the state not to kill their mother,” Kardashian tweeted on Thursday (7 April) along with the letter.
“There are so many unresolved questions surrounding this case and the evidence that was used to convict her.”
Clémence Michallon reports.
Kim Kardashian shares ‘heartbreaking’ letter in bid to stop Melissa Lucio’s execution
There have been growing calls to cancel or commute Lucio’s death sentence
White House won’t be drawn in on Melissa Lucio case
At today’s White House daily briefing, The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg asked Press Secretary Jen Psaki about Melissa Lucio’s case given the evidence of a false confession, bipartisan support for clemency, and now international pressure.
“Would the president consider asking [Texas] Governor Abbott to intervene?”
Ms Psaki responded: “You know the president’s view on the death penalty and there’s an ongoing review at the Department of Justice — at the federal level — this is obviously at a state level… I don’t have anything to predict beyond that.”
Europe calls for clemency for Lucio as execution looms
The case for granting Melissa Lucio clemency, which had already been gaining traction with dozens of US lawmakers, jurors from her own trial and even reality star Kim Kardashian, is now attracting international pressure as the European Union has called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to reverse his state’s death sentence of the woman.
Europe calls on Texas governor to grant Melissa Lucio clemency as execution looms
The 53-year-old domestic violence victim and mother of 14 has been on death row since her trial over the 2007 death of her two-year-old daughter