Death Row Inmate Fights ‘Junk Science’ Law!  

Texas lawmakers meet with Robert Roberson. Credit | AP
Texas lawmakers meet with Robert Roberson. Credit | AP

United States: A Texas death row inmate, Robert Roberson, who was convicted of “shaken baby syndrome” murder leading to the death of his 2-year-old daughter, would appear before the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Frida over the state’s “junk science ” law. 

More about the news 

It is a state law enacted in 2013 that provides a legal process through which a person can challenge their conviction if new scientific studies or facts would have presumably affected the outcome of a case with new scientific knowledge. 

However, some legislatures argue that they are worried that the districts might not be equipped sufficiently to handle some of these challenges, and now the House committee is looking into it, ABC News reported. 

Death row of Roberson 

Roberson was on track to be the first person in the US to be put to death for a shaken baby diagnosis murder conviction on October 17 this week when the Supreme Court came into the picture and a state house committee issued a subpoena for Roberson to testify on the law the following day, October 21 st preventing the execution. 

Death Row Inmate Fights 'Junk Science' Law! Credit | AP
Death Row Inmate Fights ‘Junk Science’ Law! Credit | AP

Nevertheless, Roberson did not testify that day. 

Also, currently, a new execution date has not been set, according to Roberson’s legal representatives. 

In November, the Supreme Court of Texas observed that a subpoena will not prevent a scheduled execution. 

The back story of Roberson 

Roberson was convicted for the 2002 murder of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, on the basis of a pediatrician’s evidence of swelling and hemorrhages in Nikki’s brain to support shaken baby syndrome claim. 

He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in the year 2003, ABC News reported. 

https://twitter.com/TexasTribune/status/1870134018370326854

Roberson’s attorney claimed during appeals that evidence not presented at trial found that Nikki had pneumonia and was being prescribed by her doctors days before her demise the respiratory suppressing drugs. 

This ultimately led to her demise from severe Viral and bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, and finally septic shock. 

Also, according to Roberson’s team, he has a problem with the way he shows emotions, which is due to his autism; the investigators commenting on the arrest that Roberson did not show any emotion.