| COMMUNITY |
| Message Boards Chat Feedback |
| SITE SOURCES |
| Contents Help! Search CNN Networks |
| SPECIALS |
| Quick News Almanac Video Vault News Quiz |
|
Woman's Texas execution to proceed
Tucker State parole board denies clemency
February 2, 1998
Web posted at: 6:58 p.m. EST (2358 GMT)In this story:
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (CNN) -- Pickax killer Karla Faye Tucker lost her bid for clemency on Monday when the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles ruled against the former drug-using prostitute turned born-again Christian who is due to die by lethal injection on Tuesday.
Tucker's last hope of avoiding the death penalty lies with the U.S. Supreme Court.
If the execution is carried out in the death chamber at the Huntsville Unit of the Texas Department of Corrections, Tucker, 38, would be the first woman executed in Texas since 1863 and only the second in the United States since the Supreme Court in 1976 allowed capital punishment to resume.
Tucker Profile:
Facing death with memories of murderTranscripts:
Larry King interviews Tucker
Larry King debate on Tucker caseStatistics:
Women on Death RowPoll:
Should gender be an issue?Message Board:
Debating the death penaltyExcerpts:
Tucker's letter seeking reprieveSentenced to death for murdering two people in a Houston apartment in 1983, Tucker contends she is a changed woman who has found God and can serve as a resource for others if her death sentence is changed to life in prison.
Denial of clemency was expected
Parole board members began considering Tucker's plea for clemency -- which means leniency or mercy -- last week.
But given the panel's recent history, even a single vote from the 18-member panel in favor of clemency for a condemned murderer would have been unusual.
Tucker would have needed at least 10 votes, because Gov. George W. Bush may commute -- change -- a death sentence only if a majority of the board recommends it. The board unanimously rejected 16 similar requests last year.
Texas law gives governors little independent authority in such cases, with the power to issue only a one-time, 30-day reprieve.
No decision yet from Supreme Court
In their appeal to the Supreme Court, Tucker's lawyers contend the Texas process for commuting a prison sentence is unconstitutional in part because of the consistent lack of favorable rulings.
Lawyers argued there are no guidelines for deciding commutation requests and no public hearings where inmates can appear.
A federal judge on Monday rejected Tucker's request to stay her Tuesday execution until her lawsuit against Texas clemency procedures was resolved.
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks said in his decision that there is "no constitutional right to clemency under federal law." Tucker's appeal to the Supreme Court is still pending.
Related stories:
- Larry King Live Weekend: Replay of Karla Faye Tucker interview - January 14, 1998
- Clemency decision due Monday for woman on Texas death row - February 1, 1998
- Attorney for woman on death row challenges Texas procedures - January 20, 1998
- Texas prepares to execute woman - January 15, 1998
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Christian Broadcasting Network: Interviews from Death Row
- Death Penalty Links
- The Death Penalty Page
- ACLU - The Case Against The Death Penalty
- Pro Death Penalty Page
- Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards & chat |
|
© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.