HOUSTON – Amid tensions over the delay in death row inmate Robert Roberson’s execution, a Texas lawmaker suggested his lawyer’s appearance at the former jury foreman’s home went too far. But lawyers say there’s more to the story.
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According to an email from Rep. Cody Harris of Texas’ 8th District, the jury foreperson said Mr. He is said to have made a whistle-blowing complaint through the agency. .
Below is the full statement from Mr. Harris’ office on behalf of Jury Foreman Steven Cubstead in this case.
“Last week, Gretchen Sims Sween, Robert Roberson’s attorney, showed up unexpectedly at my home and offered my opinion in the case of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of murdering 2-year-old Nikki Curtis. She tried to convince me to change. I believe her actions were highly inappropriate, but it caused me to reconsider the incident.
Everything that Roberson’s defenders are saying, including statements from former jurors, is a lie. I did not vote to convict Roberson on the grounds of shaken baby syndrome. I find him guilty because of the bruises on Nikki’s face, the crushed skull, and the evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Roberson is guilty of murdering a 2-year-old girl. I voted for it. It’s been 22 years since that incident, but I still can’t sleep knowing that Robert Roberson was convicted. He is dangerous and justice must be served. ”
The allegations come on the heels of depictions of the war about Roberson.
More: Ken Paxton and Texas congressman accuse each other of mischaracterizing Robert Roberson case | Relatives of 2-year-old victim appeal to Texas lawmaker against convicted murderer Robert Roberson highlight the evidence
KPRC 2 has reached out to Roberson’s attorney, Sween, for comment and confirmation. In a lengthy email response, she explained that she had “asked former jurors” to examine new evidence that the Roberson jury had never seen before, but that “the jurors were not willing to do so.” “Ta”.
Among the new evidence, Mr Sween pointed to an autopsy report that “unequivocally states there is no skull fracture”. Additionally, she said Roberson did not convict Roberson based on the “shaken baby” theory, even though “there were 260 references to that theory in the court record because it was a state theory.” He refuted a former juror’s claim that he had done so.
Related article: Juror Robert Roberson says new evidence could have prevented conviction in shaken infant case
Sween also released a slew of new documents, including testimony from the lead detective who investigated 2-year-old Nikki’s death “relating to unreliable ‘tips’ and other testimony regarding invalid and false sexual assault charges.” He also pointed to documents and recent testimony.
“That government officials are more interested in promoting the execution of fellow Texans than in considering the overwhelming evidence that the targets of their attacks are most likely innocent is a Texan… That should bother anyone,” she concluded.
Read her full statement to KPRC 2 below.
“I asked a former juror if he was willing to look at new evidence that Robert Roberson’s jury had never seen before, and he wasn’t willing to do that. The circulated statement said the jury did not convict Roberson based on the “shaken baby” theory, but there are more than 260 references to that theory in court records, and the state’s theory This is because it was. Another juror (Tere Compton, here: https://tinyurl.com/mps8jmcf) testified that he found Mr. Roberson guilty based on the shaken baby theory. For the 263 mentions of tremors in Mr. Roberson’s trial, see this document: https://tinyurl.com/mr49vrax.
“According to Harris, this juror also claims the guilty verdict was based on his recollection of the ‘bruises’ he saw on Nikki’s face and ‘a crushed skull.’
“I would like to refer you to the autopsy report (below) that was previously released to the public by the Attorney General’s Office, which clearly states on page 4, “There were no skull fractures.” How you can imagine that a child’s skull being “shattered” will not cause even a hairline fracture in the skull defies the basic laws of physics. An autopsy also revealed that there were no fractures of any kind. Additionally, a CT scan taken when Nikki arrived at the hospital on the morning of January 31, 2002, confirmed that there was no skull fracture.
“I am also attaching an expert report from a pediatric radiologist regarding that important medical evidence, which the jury never saw in 2003, and which the coroner had not seen in 2002. Her father didn’t even bother to investigate these scans. This is objective evidence of Nikki’s condition when she was taken to the hospital, where she was kept in a closet in the basement of the Anderson County Courthouse until 2018, almost 20 years after her conviction. A complete review of the evidence was not possible.
“The source-based rebuttal from Attorney Roberson, including a new statement from Brian Wharton, the lead detective who investigated Nikki’s death, is based on false statements on pages 19-22 about unreliable ‘snitches’ and other testimony. in the section entitled “View #11”. For information on invalid and false sexual assault claims, click here: https://tinyurl.com/y64zxfyc)
I also feel compelled to acknowledge and briefly respond to a letter sent by some members of the Bowman family who have been told for 22 years that Robert Roberson committed a heinous crime against their family. There is. It is understandable that some family members’ grief over what happened, and the story that has been told for more than 20 years, would lead them to speak out publicly. To our knowledge, records do not indicate that Robert Roberson’s family expressed any concerns about Nikki’s care before his tragic death. In fact, Nikki’s maternal grandparents agreed that Robert should have custody of Nikki months before Nikki died, and asked Robert to care for her the night before she collapsed. Incontrovertible evidence shows that Nicky died from complications of fatal undiagnosed pneumonia and the dangerous doses of drugs he was prescribed. Finally, Robert has support from people in Nikki’s family, as a letter from Robert’s brother Thomas shows. They believe Robert never harmed Nikki and believe what science and medicine have proven. Nikki’s death was a tragedy, but not a crime.
Let’s not forget that Nikki had relatives on both sides who loved her. (See the letter from Robert’s brother, Thomas Roberson, here: https://tinyurl.com/36rpktnp.)
That government officials are more interested in promoting the execution of fellow Texans than in considering the overwhelming evidence that the targets of their attacks have likely committed no crime This must be troublesome for anyone.
Other Congressmen like Brian Harrison and Lacey Hull also pushed back against Harris’ claims in a joint statement, saying in part:
“There are obvious falsehoods being spread about the Robert Roberson case. The claims that Nicky Curtis had a ‘crushed skull’ or ‘skull fracture’ are so ridiculous that they don’t really make sense. It would be funny if it weren’t tragic.”
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