NEWS: Texas Governor Issues Last Minute Stay Of Execution For Female Convict, page 1

posted on Dec, 1 2004 @ 11:38 PM

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The Governor of Texas has granted a temporary stay of execution to a woman just hours before she was scheduled to be put to death. The stay was granted to allow her lawyers the chance to conduct tests on new evidence found in her case. The woman, Francis Newton, was convicted of killing her husband and two children. If executed she would only be the fourth female executed in Texas since the civil war and the first African American. The stay is for a duration of 4 months.

story.news.yahoo.com
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Gov. Rick Perry blocked the execution of a woman two hours before she was to go to her death Wednesday so her lawyers can conduct new tests on evidence in the 17-year-old murder case.

Frances Newton, 39, was convicted of killing her husband and two young children. She would have been the first black woman and the fourth female put to death in Texas since the Civil War. She denied any involvement in the slayings.

The governor granted her a four-month reprieve a day after the Texas parole board, in a rare step, recommended it. The board usually turns aside requests from condemned prisoners.

"I see no evidence of innocence," Perry said in a statement. "However, I am granting the additional time to allow the courts the opportunity to order a retesting of gunpowder residue on the skirt the defendant wore at the time of the murders and of the gun used in the murders.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Good for the Governor of Texas. He issued a statement that he doubts that the conviction will be overturned, but he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I am a strong death penalty supporter, but I believe that any reasonable question should be answered prior to the execution. However, deliberate stalling attempts should be ignored.

Bleys

posted on Dec, 1 2004 @ 11:53 PM

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If there is any doubt as to her innocence every avenue should be exhausted before proceeding. One thing I am curious about - was the only evidence of her guilt gun shot residue on her clothing? No gun, no fingerprints, no witnesses?

Does anyone have a link to an old newstory? Exactly what evidence convicted her?

B.

FredT

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:07 AM

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You know I looked. AParently they are testing gunpowder residue or something. However she was convicted 17 years ago. I don't know if alot of news from that time frame is avalible. maybe a local station with a good archive or something. How is it that it took 17 years and this evidence shows up at the last minute though?

GradyPhilpott

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:44 AM

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I've got to tell you. If I was ever convicted of a captial crime, I would want a swift execution, regardles of my guilt or innocence. When you consider the quality of life in state prisons, I think death is a far better fate. I'm a quality of life kind of guy, not that I require luxury. I'm just not so afraid of death that seventeen years on death row sounds like a good deal in comparson.

surfup

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:48 AM

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Wow....17 years on death row and the evidence pops up hours before execution.

This is either one hell of a miracle or another flaw of the U.S. system.

Surf

Mokuhadzushi

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:49 AM

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Frances Newton, almost Margaret Hassan II ?

[edit on 2-12-2004 by Mokuhadzushi]

surfup

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:54 AM

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Originally posted by Mokuhadzushi

Frances Newton, is she Margaret Hassan II ?

Gee...I don't know.

One did service for the war torn people in Iraq, another is accused of killing her husband and two children. One was kidnapped by terrorists, another was arrested.

Do they look the same to you?

Surf

Mokuhadzushi

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:55 AM

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depends upon the perspective...

surfup

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:56 AM

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Originally posted by Mokuhadzushi
depends upon the perspective...

I don't get it.

Why don't you tell me the other prespective, if there is one?

Surf

GradyPhilpott

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 12:58 AM

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I don't know what that comment is supposed to mean, Mokuhadzushi, but I can't imagine that it is appropriate in any way. It shows a callous disregard for Margaret Hassan and her lifetime of service to the Iraqi people and her fate and it makes a ridiulous implication about justice in America relative to the treatment of prisoners in Iraq or even your beloved China.

[edit on 04/12/2 by GradyPhilpott]

Mokuhadzushi

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 01:30 AM

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Frances Newton, alias Margaret Hassan II, is perhaps innocent, and she was almost executed by people showing utter disdain for humanitarian law. So perhaps, yes, she is guilty and deserves a form 'punishment', but, depending on the perspective, she can be called Margaret Hassan II.

surfup

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 01:36 AM

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Originally posted by Mokuhadzushi
Frances Newton, alias Margaret Hassan II, is perhaps innocent, and she was almost executed by people showing utter disdain for humanitarian law. So perhaps, yes, she is guilty and deserves a form 'punishment', but, depending on the perspective, she can be called Margaret Hassan II.

Utter disdain for humanitarian law?

What the heck are you talking about?

She is being punished for killing her husband and her 2 children, he is not being killed for helping warn torn people of Iraq.

You must be truly out of your mind to say she is Margaret Hassan II. Maybe she is innocent, but still what good has she done? On the other hand Margaret Hassan did service to Iraqi people and kicked by terrorists.

Surf

FredT

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 02:17 AM

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Originally posted by Mokuhadzushi
Frances Newton, alias Margaret Hassan II, is perhaps innocent, and she was almost executed by people showing utter disdain for humanitarian law. So perhaps, yes, she is guilty and deserves a form 'punishment', but, depending on the perspective, she can be called Margaret Hassan II.

Wow, nice streeeeeeeeeeeeeeatch. Hmm The Texas murderer was convicted by a jury of peers, found guilty and apealed the conviction for the last 17. Hassan, who never killed anybody as far as we know and helped the iraqi people, was kidnapped, abused, then summarly murdered.

How exactly is this related? The closest I can see is maybe the butchers in the video killing Hassan will get a chance to ride old Sparkey. Regular or extra crispy

[edit on 12/2/04 by FredT]

XPhiles

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 02:24 AM

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Back to the topic... Had Frances Newton been a man, what do you think would of happen sooner?

FredT

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 02:29 AM

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Originally posted by XPhiles
Back to the topic... Had Frances Newton been a man, what do you think would of happen sooner?

Thanks for getting us off of our daily dose of propaganda

You raise a good question. Are womens length of stay on death row longer than men. On the surface it seems to be YES. 17 years is a long time. This may call for a bit of research.

FredT

posted on Dec, 2 2004 @ 02:34 AM

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Originally posted by GradyPhilpott
I'm just not so afraid of death that seventeen years on death row sounds like a good deal in comparson.

Granted its not the Hilton, but they are segregated and this site Chronicles thier day:

The Daily Routine of Death Row Inmates

Meals: Death row inmates take meals in their cells at 5a.m., 10:30a.m.-11:00a.m. and 4p.m.-4:30p.m. Food Services prepares the trays which are transported by insulated carts to the wings. Runners (inmates in administrative confinement), accompanied by officers distribute meals to the cells.

Exercise: Death row inmates are taken to the exercise yard four hours a week; twice a week for two hours each. The yard has basketball, volleyball and weights. The inmates are counted at least once an hour.

Visitors: Visitors are allowed every weekend from 9a.m. to 3p.m.: all must be approved by the prison before being placed on the inmate�s visitor list. If a visitor travels over 200 miles, the visitor can visit both Saturday and Sunday. Members of the media may request death row inmate interviews through the Office of Information Services at (904)***-****.

Showers: The inmates may shower every other day.

Security: Inmates are escorted in handcuffs and wear them everywhere except in their cells, the exercise yard, and the shower. They are in their cells at all times except for medical reasons or legal or media interviews, or social visits. When a warrant is signed the inmate is allowed a legal and social call.

Mail, Magazines & Entertainment: Inmates may receive mail every day except holidays and weekends; they may have cigarettes and snacks, radios and black and white televisions in their cells. They do not have cable. They can tune into church services on closed circuit television. The televisions are paid for through the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund. Inmates occasionally play chess with a cell mate on either side of him/her.

Clothing: Death row inmates can be distinguished from other inmates by their orange T-shirts.
A Day On Death Row