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crime19h ago
Texas man executed as his cousin claims he was shooter in fatal 2008 robbery
Nbcnews.com and 1 more
- A North Texas man, James Broadnax, was executed after claims that he wasn’t the shooter in the 2008 fatal robbery, with his cousin Demarius Cummings asserting he was the killer.
- Cummings released a video claiming, in his words, that it was him who was the killer, asserting his role in the 2008 killings.
- Broadnax's attorneys argued that his confession was supported by DNA found on the murder weapon and in the pocket of a victim, bolstering claims of innocence.
- Prosecutors maintained that Broadnax confessed to the shooting, saying he had no remorse, and argued the confession supported the case against him.
- The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Broadnax a 180-day reprieve or any commute to a life sentence, keeping the death sentence in place.
- Experts debated whether prosecutors used rap lyrics to portray Broadnax as violent to justify the death penalty, amid other forensic evidence concerns.
- If carried out, Broadnax would be the third execution in Texas that year, highlighting Texas' long history of the death penalty.
- Cummings’ confession emerged as a focal point in post-trial statements, with Broadnax’s rights alleged to have been violated by race-based juror exclusions.
- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Broadnax’s appeals, including those regarding forensic evidence presentation at trial, before his execution.
- Family members of the victims publicly urged the execution, with supporters emphasizing closure for the families.
- The defense argued Batson-based juror exclusion (racially biased jury selection) violated Broadnax’s rights, challenging the fairness of the trial.
- The execution occurred at the Texas state penitentiary in Huntsville, illustrating the ongoing use of lethal injection in the state’s death-penalty system.
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