LAWYERS WANT EXECUTION OF TEXAS ‘KILLING MACHINE’ STOPPED

Two-pronged appeal for Garcia White, who killed 16-year-ol twins and three others, argues he suffers from “borderline intelligence” and that he may suffer pain from the execution drug

Houston prosecutors referred to Garcia White as a “killing machine” after he murdered five people. He is scheduled to be executed January 28 after having been convicted in 1996 of murdering Annette and Bernette Edwards, 16-year-old twins.

According to the Houston Chronicle, “The girls became incidental victims of a crack cocaine-fueled quarrel between White and their mother, Bonita Edwards, who also was killed. Annette's nude body, stabbed 11 times, was found wrapped in a blanket at her mother's north Houston apartment; her sister was stabbed 18 times.” White also beat a 27-year-old woman to death in 1989 and killed a convenience store clerk during a 1995 robbery.

In their attempt to overturn the death sentence, White’s lawyers have filed a two-pronged appeal with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest appellate court for criminal cases.

The first prong argues that White should not be executed because he suffers from “borderline intelligence” and that he scored low on “tests of adaptive behavior, including one that measures an individual's ability to comprehend society's norms.”

According to the Chronicle, “The appeal cites a 2008 psychological exam that found that White - though technically not mentally retarded and, thus, protected from execution - still has ‘intellectual limitations that are likely to result in social vulnerabilities. Does not the due course of law under (the Texas constitution) mandate that this person, who for whatever reason, the universe has rendered less capable, be given more leniency in their attempts to invoke counsel?’ the new appeal argues.”

The second prong argues that the pentobarbital which will be used in the execution was produced by a compounding pharmacy that is barely regulated and that the lethal drug could contain contaminants which would cause White to suffer constitutionally prohibited pain as he was being put to death. The lawyers want the court to appoint a special master or schedule an evidentiary hearing to ensure that the drug used in executions will not cause White any suffering.

Excuse me while I dab the tears from my cheeks. Poor old Garcia’s intelligence is low enough to prevent him from comprehending “society's norms.” No wonder he killed Annette and Bernette Edwards, their mother Bonita Edwards, plus a 27-year-old woman and a convenience store clerk. And heaven forbid that this borderline intelligent “killing machine” should suffer any pain during his execution. Time to dab some more tears from my cheeks.

Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s spare poor old Garcia’s life and execute those heartless prosecutors instead.