Members of a Texas House committee on Tuesday repeatedly pressed a prosecutor to use his authority to stop the April 27 execution of a woman whose conviction is being questioned amid growing doubts about whether she fatally beat her 2-year-old daughter.
HOUSTON —
Saenz pushed back, saying he disagreed with claims by Lucio’s attorneys that there was new evidence that would exonerate her. State Rep. Joe Moody said he believed if there are mistakes in a case, “it is the duty and the moral responsibility of a prosecutor to right those wrongs.”Tuesday’s hearing was led by Leach and Moody, who are part of a bipartisan group of more than 80 Texas House members who are troubled by Lucio’s case and believe new evidence shows she did not fatally beat her daughter Mariah in 2007 in the South Texas city of Harlingen.
But Lucio’s lawyers say jurors never heard forensic evidence that would have explained Mariah’s various injuries were actually caused by a fall down a steep staircase. They also say Lucio wasn’t allowed to present evidence questioning the validity of her confession, which they allege was given under duress after hours of relentless questioning.One of those jurors, Johnny Galvan Jr., appeared before the committee.
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