PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "On the night of her death, Nikki fell out of her bed and Roberson found her unconscious and turning blue. His attorneys say when he brought her to the hospital, that's when the accusations started. “He was immediately prejudged as suspicious because of a symptom of his autism,” said Gretchen Sween, Roberson's longtime counsel. More than 80 state lawmakers are calling for clemency for Roberson because they say the state's Junk Science Writ, which took effect in 2013, should require the case to be reconsidered."
STORY: "Attorneys for Texas death row inmate take new step in quest for clemency, by Laura Sather (KVUE), Melia Masumoto, Britny Eubank, published on October 3, 2024.
GIST: "Robert Roberson is set to be executed on Oct. 17 for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. Roberson's attorneys have sent an updated letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbott, requesting clemency for Roberson because they say the state is risking executing a man for "a crime that did not occur."
Multiple groups have come out in support of Roberson in recent weeks. When he was convicted, jurors accepted the theory that his daughter died from "Shaken Baby Syndrome." But since then, medical experts have said that Nikki had pneumonia before she died and she was given medication that made it worse.
On the night of her death, Nikki fell out of her bed and Roberson found her unconscious and turning blue. His attorneys say when he brought her to the hospital, that's when the accusations started.
“He was immediately prejudged as suspicious because of a symptom of his autism,” said Gretchen Sween, Roberson's longtime counsel.
More than 80 state lawmakers are calling for clemency for Roberson because they say the state's Junk Science Writ, which took effect in 2013, should require the case to be reconsidered.
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