Nov. 17
TEXAS----execution
Convict in Houston 'Good Samaritan' slaying executed
Convicted killer Anthony Fuentes was executed tonight for fatally shooting
a man who tried to nab the robber of a Houston convenience store 10 years
ago.
Fuentes, 30, denied he was responsible for killing Robert Tate, 28, who
became known as a slain good Samaritan, although Fuentes acknowledged he
was with 3 companions when they were holding up the store.
Fuentes, in a brief statement said repeatedly that he had found peace.
"Sorry that I have to put my family through this," he said.
Among those watching him die was his grandfather and 2 sisters along with
2 of Tate's brothers.
"To everybody else, the truth will be known," he said. "It didn't come out
in time to save my life."
"But when it comes out I hope it stops this. It is wrong for the
prosecutors to lie and make witnesses say what they need them to say. The
truth has always been there. I just hope everybody has their peace. Today
I get mine."
As the drugs began taking effect, he gasped slightly and 6 minutes later,
at 6:17 p.m. he was pronounced dead.
Fuentes becomes the 23rd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in
Texas and the 336th overall since the state resumed capital punishment on
December 7, 1977. Fuentes becomes the 97th condemned inmate to be put to
death since Rick Perry became Governor in 2000.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month rejected a request to review his case.
In late appeals seeking to stop the execution, his lawyers argued
prosecutors knowingly allowed false testimony against Fuentes and
suppressed evidence.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed the appeal Wednesday
morning. A request for a stay of execution was filed later in the day with
the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices for time to review
prosecutors' conduct during the trial. The high court rejected the request
about 20 minutes before Fuentes was scheduled to die.
Fuentes becomes the 59th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in
the USA and the 9a44th overall since America resumed executions on January
17, 1977.
(sources: Associated Press & Rick Halperin)
