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TEXAS (USA): REGINALD BLANTON PUT TO DEATH
October 27, 2009: Reginald Blanton was executed this evening in Texas.
Blanton, 28, black, was condemned to die in 2001 for the April 13, 2000 robbery and shooting death of his acquaintance Carlos Garza, 22.
Blanton insisted his execution was an injustice and he was wrongly convicted. He had always maintained his innocence but a security video submitted at his capital murder trial showed him pawning 2 gold necklaces and a religious medal belonging to Garza about 20 minutes after the shooting.
Blanton's twin brother, Robert Blanton, told police his brother broke into Garza's apartment, believing no one was home, and shot Garza when he appeared.
Reginald Blanton was 18 at the time. He became the 19th inmate to be executed in Texas this year. Blanton becomes the 442nd condemned inmate to be put to death in Texas since the state resumed capital punishment on December 7, 1982. Blanton becomes the 42nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1178th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977. (Sources : Associated Press & Rick Halperin, 27/10/2009)
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