(Warning: Brutal Descriptions)
Posted on 07/18/2008 6:08:12 AM PDT by Zakeet
Despite pleas from the White House and the State Department, as well as an international court order to review their cases, Texas will execute five Mexicans on death row, a spokeswoman for the governor said Thursday. The first of the executions — that of José Ernesto Medellín, 33, convicted in the 1993 rape and murder of two teenage girls here — is scheduled for Aug. 5.
The decision by Gov. Rick Perry to allow the executions is the latest twist in a long-running battle between Mexico, which has no death penalty, and the United States over the fate of 51 Mexicans facing capital punishment in several states, including 14 in Texas. On Wednesday, the International Court of Justice at The Hague ordered a review of five of the Texas cases after Mexico complained that the convicts, all men, had not been allowed a chance to talk to a Mexican consul after their arrests, as required under the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
But that argument holds little sway in Texas, a place with a long history of upholding the death penalty and of telling other governments to mind their own business.
[Snip]
Mr. Medellín [was] one of six young men that a jury found had raped and strangled Elizabeth Peña, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 15, in a park one night.
Mr. Medellín was 18 at the time and had lived most of his life in Texas; he signed a confession in English.
[Snip]
For relatives of the murdered girls, questions about international relations seem irrelevant.
“This has nothing to do with the World Court; it has nothing to do with the U.N.,” said Jennifer’s father, Randy Ertman. “This has everything to do with what Mexico wants, not what Texas wants. The people of Texas want the death penalty.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Hey Bush, why don’t you fight this fight on our side for once and pardon the two border agents that were doing their job?
What of the “irreparable breach of international obligation” by sending murderers to Texas?
Too, the article writer seems a bit too aghast that Texas would defy “an international court order”.
Go, Texas! Put the animals down!
Agreed, at least on this issue.
Works for me! God Bless Texas!
Some people need killin’
I believe that most of those Hispanics are loyal to Texas and the US. It is my opinion that MOST Mexican immigrants assimilate into the “American” culture within 2 generations. I grew up with Hispanics and you have to remember that many of them had families that had been in America for 100 years.
Just so long as you know that you’re being outnumbered and are happy with that. Remember that come voting time.
While Governor Perry would probably be happy to take full credit for the firm stand, unless the Texas Constitution has been changed recently, his only independent power related to executions is to grant one (1) 30 day stay of execution.
Except for that one time action, the governor is powerless to do anything on his own. A state Pardons and Paroles Board, appointed by the governor, must recommend any action for the governor to take. The governor does not have to follow the recommendation but he can’t act without it. We often have some very independent minded people on these type boards.
We love Texans here, please feel free visit anytime, stay all summer, cause I know it’t damn Hot in texas. But everyone from the land of friuts and nuts, don’t visit,or stay or move here we have an over abundance of socialists.
That’s alright, Brody. Due to the high price of gas, we’re only gonna get as far as northern New Mexico this year.
Thanks for the praise.
That kind of comment makes me proud to be able to say that I am a Texan by birth.
Thanks for the clarification. I did not know that. Than whoever is standing up against the liberal, anti-death penalty forces, Kudos.
Maybe if Mexico kept their citizens IN MEXICO crap like this wouldn’t happen. By crap I mean the crimes. The executions should all be done consecutively in the same night.
Remember the Alamo!!!
Remember Goliad!!!
Texas: getting rid of illegal immigrants one at a time...
Best to have the word on both sides...
...you just know, the first time an American is executed or tortured without the chance to contact the American consulate, we'll likely see FReepers falling all over themselves to protest it as unfair.
Medellin and his cohorts and accomplices fit that bill to the tee for what he did to those young girls. It was a horrid tale and it deserves a horrid end...Mexican grnandmother, world court, foolish US State Department and US Attorney General requests notwithstanding.
Way to go Texas...way to go Gov. Perry. You've got this one right...now stick to you guns.
I love that saying, “Don’t mess with Texas”!
and ...
Hey GOP, why don't you give us a conservative candidate?
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