LIVINGSTON, Texas — A group of bipartisan legislators visited an East Texas inmate on death row Friday in a combined effort to achieve clemency for the man.
Robert Roberson III, 57, of Livingston, has been on death row since February of 2003 after he was found guilty of murdering his 2-year-old daughter in 2002. A group of legislators from the Texas House of Representatives met with Roberson Friday following a letter sent last week to the Board of Pardons and Paroles urging clemency for the inmate, signed by 86 state representatives.
"I cannot in good conscience be silent as our state seeks to execute Robert Roberson, a man with autism who has been mourning the tragic death of his two-year-old daughter for the last 22 years," Rep. Christian Manuel, D-Port Arthur, said. "As a state and as a legislative body, we must reaffirm our commitment to justice and criminal justice reform. And we have to take better care of Texans with autism and how they are treated in our society."
The letter urged officials to reexamine Roberson's conviction, arguing that the "shaken baby syndrome" hypothesis used in court against Roberson was used inappropriately in courts.
Texas courts have the power to overturn convictions if they find relevant, admissible scientific evidence otherwise unavailable to the defense at the time of the trial or contradicts scientific evidence used by the state at trial.
"With the enormous power of a capital punishment penalty must also come the monumental responsibility to make sure we are getting it right," Rep. Krinda Thimesch, R-Lewisville said. "If the State of Texas is going to end a life, it cannot be under the shadow of junk science with far too many questions unanswered."
As of Sept. 28, 2024, Roberson is set to be executed Oct. 17, 2024.