This week, a Texas death row inmate faces execution, even though advocates say he is innocent

Texas plans to execute Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson this Thursday. He is convicted of murdering his two-year-old daughter in 2003.

Roberson has maintained his innocence on death row for more than 20 years. His lawyers agree and argue he was wrongfully convicted of murdering his daughter. They claim his conviction was based on a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome that has since been ruled incorrect.

His daughter Nikki Curtis was ill before she died. Roberson took her to the hospital, where advocates said she was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome without medical professionals examining her pre-existing conditions.

Court documents show she had bruises and injuries to her head, including brain swelling and bleeding. Law enforcement authorities considered the doctor’s words guilty and arrested him.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE |Robert Roberson loses one of his final appeals to stop executions in Texas

But his supporters said Nikki died of double pneumonia that developed into sepsis.

“I can tell you what we agree on: You can’t execute someone in a situation where no crime may have been committed,” said Joe Moody, a state representative and chairman of the Texas House Criminal Justice Committee.

Lawyers also said Roberson’s behavior in the hospital, which was described as strange, bland behavior and was viewed by medical staff and police as evidence of guilt, was misjudged. According to his lawyers, his behavior that day was a result of his autism, which was only diagnosed in 2018.

“The entire handling of this case, from the rush to accuse Robert of child abuse to the arrest based on his presentation as an autistic person, is of great concern,” said Rep. Lacey Hull.

On Friday, the Texas Court of Appeals rejected one of Roberson’s final appeals against the execution, leaving him with few options by Thursday.

“We are hurtling toward an execution even though a strong bipartisan majority of #txlege lawmakers aren’t even sure a crime took place — and are quite certain that due process didn’t,” posted Rep. Joe Moody the social media platform

Representative Moody called for a hearing with the chairman of the Texas House Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday.

When Roberson is executed on Thursday, he will be the first person in the United States to be executed for a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 18 people in Texas have been exonerated since 1973 after being wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death.