The execution of Texas inmate Jose Ernesto Medellin, age 33, is scheduled for Tuesday, August, 5 and has been the center of controversy between Texas,the Bush administration and international diplomatic officials for years. Medellin, a Mexican national who has lived in the United States most of his life, received the death penalty for his part in the brutal gang rape and murder of two Houston teenagers 15 years ago.
According Medelin and his attorneys, he was not given access to Mexican consular officials, which is a violation under the International treaty agreement. The agreement states that a detained foreign national in any of the 166 participating countries is entitled to consular officials "without delay." President Bush ordered the states to comply with the ruling, but the Supreme Court revoked Medelin's appeal stating that president Bush had overstepped his authority.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, has not up to this point tried to stop the execution, even after he has received written appeals from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Attorney General Michael Mukasey. A spokeswoman for Gov. Perry,Allison Castle stated,
"This is an individual who along with five others brutally and viciously gang-raped, stomped, kicked, slashed, strangled and murdered two young teenage girls.
"We don't care where you're from. If you commit a despicable crime like this in Texas, you'll face the ultimate penalty under our laws."
If Gov. Perry allows the execution to occur, it is feared that failure to comply with the treaty agreement will endanger Americans overseas and could cause other countries to retaliate against U.S. citizens. Perry will make his final decision after hearing recommendations from the Texas board of Pardons and Paroles.
No comments:
Post a Comment