The Government of Mexico, through the ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barraganwrote a letter to the governor of the state of Texas, Greg Abbottwith the request of executive clemency for Melissa Elizabeth Lucio.
The woman of Mexican descent was sentenced to death in 2008 after being found guilty of the murder of her two-year-old daughter, Mariah Elizabeth Álvarez, in 2007, for which she became the first Latin American woman to receive this sentence in Texas. since the death penalty was reintroduced.
“I am sending a letter to Governor Abbott asking him to grant executive clemency to Melissa Elizabeth Lucio, who is on death row in Texas. Mexico has historically manifested an unwavering commitment in its opposition to the death penalty,” Moctezuma Barragán wrote on his Twitter account.
����
I’m sending a letter to the Governor @GregAbbott_TX to grant executive clemency to Melissa Elizabeth Lucio, sentenced to death in #Texas.
Mexico has historically shown an unwavering commitment in its opposition to the death penalty.
– Esteban Moctezuma Barragán (@emoctezumab)
April 22, 2022
The execution is scheduled for April 27. After 14 years in prison, Elizabeth Lucio’s legal defense argues that the woman is innocent and was forced to give a confession under pressurethe 53-year-old woman has always pleaded not guilty.
As reported by BBC Mundo, his defense presented to the Texas State Board of Pardons and Bail, a request for clemency to suspend the execution or, at least, postpone it for 120 days. The request has the support of more than 80 state legislators and four members of the jury that sentenced Lucio.
Said request must be approved by the board and by the governor. Greg Abbott.
