Texas is mov­ing clos­er to car­ry­ing out the exe­cu­tion of Henry Skinner on March 24, despite the fact that crit­i­cal evi­dence from the crime scene, which could point to a dif­fer­ent sus­pect, has not been sub­ject­ed to DNA test­ing . Many of the major state news­pa­pers in Texas have edi­to­ri­al­ized for a delay to the exe­cu­tion to allow for the DNA test­ing. On March 22, the Texas Board of Parole and Pardons refused to rec­om­mend clemen­cy for Skinner. Attorneys at the Capital Punishment Center at the University of Texas School of Law, who now rep­re­sent Skinner, have writ­ten a let­ter to Gov. Rick Perry ask­ing for a 30-day reprieve and an order for DNA test­ing, stat­ing, ​“While Texans undoubt­ed­ly sup­port cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment, they insist that it be reserved for those who are clear­ly guilty.” There is also a pend­ing request before the U.S. Supreme Court that could open the path for the test­ing. If these requests are reject­ed, Skinner will be exe­cut­ed tomor­row evening (March 24) with unre­solved inno­cence claims. UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court grant­ed a stay of exe­cu­tion to Skinner short­ly before he was to be exe­cut­ed on March 24. The Court wants more to time to con­sid­er his peti­tion regard­ing DNA testing.

(A. Turner, ​“Board declines reprieve for man con­vict­ed in Panhandle slay­ings,” Houston Chronicle, March 22, 2010; ​“Death row inmate enti­tled to delay for DNA tests,” The Austin American-Statesman, March 22, 2010). See also Innocence and Executed Despite Doubts About Guilt.

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