30 May 2022 :
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals resentenced Steven Butler, 60, Black, to life on his claims of intellectual disability. Butler was sentenced to death in 1988 for the shooting death of Velma Clemons during the robbery of dry cleaning store where she worked in 1986. Butler's lawyers argued he was intellectually disabled and that his execution would violate Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. They said he may not have been competent to stand trial since he blamed imaginary people for his crimes. (On the Butler’s case see also HoC December 14, 2011)
(Source: United Press International, 25/05/2022)
