Texas court halts execution of man in 'shaken baby' death case

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Texas court halts execution of man in 'shaken baby' death case
By Jon Herskovitz
June 17, 2016

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas man scheduled to be put to death next week for murdering his 2-year-old daughter has been granted a stay of execution after his lawyers argued his conviction stemmed from "junk science" about shaken baby syndrome.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday halted the planned June 21 execution of Robert Roberson and sent his case back to a trial court. It based its decision on a recent state law that permits legal challenges citing new scientific evidence potentially pointing to wrongful convictions.

Roberson, 49, was found guilty of killing his daughter in 2002. Prosecutors said he took her to the hospital after causing fatal head injuries or trauma in the toddler.

In a brief filed with the court this month, his lawyers said new scientific evidence showed that he should not have been convicted and the state relied on "false, misleading, and scientifically invalid testimony."


Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-court-halts-execution-man-shaken-baby-death-211456525.html?nhp=1

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[Major Nikon]

1. Since when was junk science not a valid reason for executing someone in Texas?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Todd_Willingham

[mountain grammy]

2. Scary place, that Texas.

[christx30]

3. Not junk science:

From the Mayo clinic:

Shaken baby syndrome — also known as abusive head trauma, shaken impact syndrome, inflicted head injury or whiplash shake syndrome — is a serious brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking an infant or toddler.

Shaken baby syndrome destroys a child's brain cells and prevents his or her brain from getting enough oxygen. Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse that can result in permanent brain damage or death.


Shaken baby syndrome is preventable. Help is available for parents who are at risk of harming a child. Parents also can educate other caregivers about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome.

[LoverOfLiberty]

4. Although I don't disagree with you

I think the death penalty (of which I am an opponent) is the wrong consequence for this type of crime unless they can show premeditation.

[Pastiche423]

5. But medical consensus has shifted in recent years

and research now shows such injuries can be caused by accidental falls from a short height, or even medical conditions such as blood-clotting disorders and latent trauma from a difficult birth, which can manifest weeks later.

Lawyers for Roberson also pointed out that it is impossible to shake a baby to death without causing serious neck injuries, which his child did not suffer.

[Little Tich]

6. At least there will be an investigation whether he committed a crime or not before he gets executed.

I suppose that's progress...