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Texas Death Row Inmate Wins Stay

Hank Skinner was to be executed tomorrow

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2011 4:00 AM CST

(Newser) – Texas death row inmate Hank Skinner was set to be executed tomorrow, but won a second reprieve when the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a stay of execution yesterday. Skinner, 49, was convicted of killing his girlfriend and her two adult sons in 1993, but he has long affirmed his innocence and wants new DNA testing done. He had already been granted one last-minute stay last year.

The state of Texas has yet to conduct DNA testing on blood from the murder weapon and a jacket left at the crime scene, scrapings from victim Twila Busby’s fingernails, hairs she was holding, and a rape kit. The stay will allow more time to determine whether they will be, the Huffington Post reports. Busby’s family believes Skinner killed her, CNN adds, but they also want the testing done in order to end years of delay. Click for more on the case.

This undated file photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Hank Skinner. (AP Photo/Texas Department of Criminal Justice, File)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

hopeandchange

Nov 8, 2011 7:45 AM CST

Seems like a no brainer to me. The "State" must know they have the wrong the man or they would have rushed this through. Typical lazy government hacks covering their asses.

JesusLovesSomeOfYou

Nov 8, 2011 6:34 AM CST

I'm not sure why an execution is even legal without every shred of possible evidence being examined. Especially something as conclusive as DNA. But... if it is his DNA, end him.

JackNelsonSteward

Nov 8, 2011 6:34 AM CST

There is NO possible excuse for NOT examining the DNA evidence that is available in this, or any other capital, case. A man's life is on the line and the State is trying to ignore possible exculpatory evidence. Test it ... it'll either confirm your case, making his execution airtight, or it'll tell you that you have the WRONG man on death row and prevent you from killing an innocent citizen.

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Texas Death Row Inmate Wins Stay

Hank Skinner was to be executed tomorrow

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Texas • execution • death row • Hank Skinner

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