Texas high court says execution in ‘shaken baby syndrome’ case can’t be halted by lawmaker subpoena

Associated Press/Report for America

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Supreme Court ruled that a legislative subpoena cannot be used to stop an execution, putting a decisive end to a legal battle that halted the scheduled execution of Robert Roberson last month. Roberson was sentenced to death in 2003 for killing his 2-year-old daughter. Prosecutors maintained she was a victim of shaken baby syndrome. Roberson was scheduled to die by lethal injection on Oct. 17 when lawmakers, in a last-ditch effort, issued a subpoena to have him testify at the Texas Capitol days after his planned execution. Roberson has gained bipartisan support from lawmakers and medical experts who say he was convicted on faulty evidence.