A Texas man who argued that he was harmless and that his trial was tainted by false testimony was executed Wednesday.
Ivan Cantu obtained a deadly injection and was pronounced lifeless at 6:47 p.m. native time on the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, according to the Associated Press.
Cantu was convicted of the double murder of his cousin James Mosqueda and Mosqueda’s fiancée, Amy Kitchen, in 2001.
Cantu maintained his innocence till his dying although makes an attempt to remain the execution ended after two decrease courts denied appeals Tuesday and Cantu’s lawyer, Gena Bunn, “couldn’t discover a viable path” to have the case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court docket, in keeping with the Related Press.
Lead juror, Kardashian supported Cantu
Cantu’s authorized group argued in court filings that his trial “was marred by false testimony from the prosecution’s star witness,” who was Cantu’s then-girlfriend, Amy Boettcher. Court docket filings additionally present that Boettcher’s brother, Jeff Boettcher, recanted his testimony.
Cantu’s attorneys additionally alleged that Amy Boettcher lied a few watch Cantu was alleged to have stolen. Cantu additionally argued that he obtained ineffective help of counsel at trial, according to court documents.
Efforts to forestall the execution gained prominence because the podcast “Cousins by Blood” reinvestigated the case.
The Ausitn American Statesman − a part of the USA TODAY NETWORK − printed an op-ed from the head juror in the 2001 case, Jeff Calhoun. The opinion piece that mentioned that the brand new proof raised doubts within the conviction.
“Merely put, we jurors didn’t hear the reality you assume you’d hear from an individual below oath,” Calhoun wrote. “Backside line, I really feel like I used to be fooled.”
A petition to stay the execution on Moveon.org gained over 150,000 signatures and was shared by Kim Kardashian. Kardashian additionally wrote a submit on X urging Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbot to offer Cantu a 30-day reprieve.
“Hey! Its Kim Kardashian, I simply wished to thanks guys for signing, and I hope you all get your pals to signal too!” she wrote after digitally signing the petition. Kardashian additionally shared the Statesman op-ed on her Instagram.
Texas Gov Greg Abbott is final resort for 30 day reprieve for Ivan CANTU, set to die Wednesday, Feb 28. Urge him to make use of his energy to permit time for brand spanking new proof in Ivan’s case to be evaluated, lest Texas execute a wrongfully convicted man. Urge the Gov to grant a 30 day reprieve…
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) February 27, 2024
Prosecutors stay ‘satisfied’ conviction was appropriate
Collin County District Legal professional Greg Willis mentioned that he was nonetheless “totally satisfied” that Cantu was responsible, in keeping with a press release supplied to CNN.
“It’s my agency perception that justice has been executed on this case and {that a} Collin County jury’s verdict needs to be carried out,” Willis advised the community.
State prosecutors have maintained that Cantu has repeatedly failed to supply new proof and that his motions don’t have any authorized foundation.
Court records show that Cantu’s fingerprints had been discovered on the gun’s journal.
Texas execution happens hours after ‘botched’ Idaho execution
Cantu’s execution got here hours after the execution of an Idaho man was called off after a medical group was unable to finish the deadly injection.
Thomas Eugene Creech was scheduled to be executed by lethal injection Wednesday, in keeping with the Idaho Department of Correction, in what would have been the state’s first execution in 12 years. Creech, 73, was convicted of 5 murders in three states and landed on dying row after killing a fellow prisoner in 1981.
The medical group tried to ascertain IV entry eight instances in a number of locations and encountered points with each accessing the veins and the standard of the veins, division director Josh Tewalt mentioned at a news conference Wednesday.
“We’re angered however not stunned that the State of Idaho botched the execution of Thomas Creech as we speak,” Federal Defender Providers of Idaho mentioned in a press release.
The dying warrant for Creech will expire and Idaho officers will think about subsequent steps, in keeping with a press release from the Department of Correction.
Contributing: N’dea Yancey-Bragg and Emily DeLetter
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Texas executes Ivan Cantu, who maintained innocence in double murder
