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As it happenedended

Melissa Lucio execution: White House won’t be drawn in on case as international pressure grows

Latest developments in Melissa Lucio case

Oliver O'Connell,Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Saturday 09 April 2022 15:30 BST
Melissa Lucio supporters rally in Dallas to stop execution

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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.

Catholic Church in Texas reiterates support for clemency

Oliver O'Connell9 April 2022 12:30

Why people are rallying to stop the execution of Melissa Lucio in Texas

Supporters ranging from Kim Kardashian to Texas Republicans to the European Union are 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

Oliver O'Connell9 April 2022 13:30

Oliver O'Connell9 April 2022 14:30

Europe calls on Governor Abbott to grant Melissa Lucio clemency

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.

Johanna Chisholm reports.

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

Oliver O'Connell9 April 2022 15:30

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