Texas Ignores Treaty to Execute Mexican Killer
State accused of putting Americans abroad at risk by defying the international court of justice
Texas was accused yesterday of putting Americans abroad at risk by defying the international court of justice and the government of Mexico to carry out the execution of a Mexican national.
José Medellín was put to death by lethal injection on Tuesday night at a prison north of Houston. His lawyers said that the execution breached America's treaty obligations, which give foreign nationals such as Medellín the right to consult consular officials.
"With this action, our nation has broken a commitment willingly made by our president and our Senate when we agreed to this treaty," said Donald Francis Donovan. "We must now hope that other nations stand stronger in their promises than we do, lest our own citizens be placed at risk elsewhere."
The Mexican government had filed a letter of protest about the case, and the ICJ had demanded a judicial review for Medellín. President George Bush had also asked Texas to review the case but was overruled by the supreme court.
Lawyers for Medellín, who was convicted of rape and murder, then sought a last-minute delay in his execution date, hoping to give Congress time to enact legislation that would bring America into line with an international treaty giving foreign citizens accused of crimes the right to consult consular officials.
The Texas authorities and the supreme court both rejected the appeals.Medellín was the first of 51 Mexican citizens on death row similarly denied access to their diplomats.
After spending virtually all of his adult life in prison, Medellín, 33, used his final moments to apologize to the parents of his two teenage victims. The parents watched his execution. "I'm sorry my actions caused you pain," Medellín told them. "I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate."
The Mexican government has now sent a note of protest to the US state department, expressing "its concern for the precedent that [the execution] may create for the rights of Mexican nationals".
Medellín and five other teenage boys took part in the rape and murder of Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14, in 1993.
José Medellín was put to death by lethal injection on Tuesday night at a prison north of Houston. His lawyers said that the execution breached America's treaty obligations, which give foreign nationals such as Medellín the right to consult consular officials.
"With this action, our nation has broken a commitment willingly made by our president and our Senate when we agreed to this treaty," said Donald Francis Donovan. "We must now hope that other nations stand stronger in their promises than we do, lest our own citizens be placed at risk elsewhere."
The Mexican government had filed a letter of protest about the case, and the ICJ had demanded a judicial review for Medellín. President George Bush had also asked Texas to review the case but was overruled by the supreme court.
Lawyers for Medellín, who was convicted of rape and murder, then sought a last-minute delay in his execution date, hoping to give Congress time to enact legislation that would bring America into line with an international treaty giving foreign citizens accused of crimes the right to consult consular officials.
The Texas authorities and the supreme court both rejected the appeals.Medellín was the first of 51 Mexican citizens on death row similarly denied access to their diplomats.
After spending virtually all of his adult life in prison, Medellín, 33, used his final moments to apologize to the parents of his two teenage victims. The parents watched his execution. "I'm sorry my actions caused you pain," Medellín told them. "I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate."
The Mexican government has now sent a note of protest to the US state department, expressing "its concern for the precedent that [the execution] may create for the rights of Mexican nationals".
Medellín and five other teenage boys took part in the rape and murder of Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14, in 1993.
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