A Texas man who could be the first person in the U.S. executed for a murder conviction tied to a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is facing a lethal injection Thursday evening amid assertions by his attorneys and a diverse coalition of supporters who say he's innocent and was convicted on faulty scientific evidence.
Robert Roberson waited to hear whether his execution might be stopped by either Gov. Greg Abbott or the U.S. Supreme Court - his last two avenues for a stay. He is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.
Roberson, 57, was condemned for the 2002 killing of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, in the East Texas city of Palestine. Roberson has long proclaimed his innocence, backed by some notable Republican lawmakers and the lead detective on the case.
"He's an innocent man and we're very close to killing him for something he did not do," said Brian Wharton, the lead detective with Palestine police who investigated Curtis' death.
Roberson's lawyers waited to see if Abbott would grant Roberson a one-time 30-day reprieve. It's the only action Abbott can take in the case as the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Wednesday denied Roberson's clemency petition .
