This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7542794.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Texas executes Mexican murderer | Texas executes Mexican murderer |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Mexican man whose case has drawn international attention has been executed in Texas for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. | A Mexican man whose case has drawn international attention has been executed in Texas for the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. |
| Jose Medellin, 33, was put to death by lethal injection after the US Supreme Court rejected a last-minute appeal. | Jose Medellin, 33, was put to death by lethal injection after the US Supreme Court rejected a last-minute appeal. |
| The International Court of Justice had urged Texas not to execute Medellin, as he had not been told of his right to consular help when he was arrested. | |
| The state argued that its courts were not bound by the rulings of the ICJ. | The state argued that its courts were not bound by the rulings of the ICJ. |
| Medellin was pronounced dead at 2157 on Tuesday (0257 GMT), the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement. | Medellin was pronounced dead at 2157 on Tuesday (0257 GMT), the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement. |
| The ICJ had ordered that the executions of all Mexicans in the US should be suspended after Mexico complained that some of its nationals on death row had not been informed of their right to consular assistance at the time of their arrest - a right under the Vienna Convention. | |
| On Tuesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on the US to abide by the ICJ ruling. | |
| "All decisions and orders of the International Court of Justice must be respected by states," he told a television station in Mexico City, where he is attending a world Aids conference. | "All decisions and orders of the International Court of Justice must be respected by states," he told a television station in Mexico City, where he is attending a world Aids conference. |
| "The United States should take every step to make sure the execution does not take place." | "The United States should take every step to make sure the execution does not take place." |
| 'Forfeited right' | 'Forfeited right' |
| Medellin's case dates back to 1993 when two girls, Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, were raped and murdered by six gang members in Houston. | Medellin's case dates back to 1993 when two girls, Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16, were raped and murdered by six gang members in Houston. |
| Set up in 1946, the ICJ is the highest United Nations court | Set up in 1946, the ICJ is the highest United Nations court |
| Medellin, who was born in Mexico but moved to the US as a child, was convicted of Miss Pena's murder and did not deny that he killed her. | |
| But at the time of his arrest, police did not tell him that he could request assistance from the Mexican consulate - in violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. | But at the time of his arrest, police did not tell him that he could request assistance from the Mexican consulate - in violation of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. |
| In 2003, Mexico, which does not have the death penalty, filed a lawsuit at the ICJ on behalf of Medellin and 50 other Mexican nationals on death row in the US who had also not received consular support. | In 2003, Mexico, which does not have the death penalty, filed a lawsuit at the ICJ on behalf of Medellin and 50 other Mexican nationals on death row in the US who had also not received consular support. |
| The court ruled in Mexico's favour, and ordered that their cases be reviewed. | The court ruled in Mexico's favour, and ordered that their cases be reviewed. |
| Texas acknowledged that Medellin had not been told he could ask for help from Mexican diplomats, but argued that he had forfeited the right because he never raised the issue at trial or sentencing. | Texas acknowledged that Medellin had not been told he could ask for help from Mexican diplomats, but argued that he had forfeited the right because he never raised the issue at trial or sentencing. |
| State officials also argued that it would not have made any difference to the outcome of the case. | State officials also argued that it would not have made any difference to the outcome of the case. |
| Last month, in response to an urgent request from Mexico, the ICJ ordered the US to "take all measures necessary" to halt Medellin's execution. | Last month, in response to an urgent request from Mexico, the ICJ ordered the US to "take all measures necessary" to halt Medellin's execution. |
| But Texas judicial authorities said in response that the law in Medellin's case was "clear". | But Texas judicial authorities said in response that the law in Medellin's case was "clear". |
| "Texas is not bound by the World Court but by the US Supreme Court, which reviewed this matter and determined that the convicted murderer's execution shall proceed," a statement from the attorney general's office said. | "Texas is not bound by the World Court but by the US Supreme Court, which reviewed this matter and determined that the convicted murderer's execution shall proceed," a statement from the attorney general's office said. |
| On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected a request by Medellin and his legal team for a reprieve. | On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected a request by Medellin and his legal team for a reprieve. |