Chron eye for the death row killer gal
The anti-death-penalty Chronicle starts early with today's Chron Eye on a killer not scheduled to die until September 14.
As protesters take to the streets and attorneys launch late-in-the-day efforts to save her from the executioner's needle, Frances Newton's capital murder case promises to pack an emotional punch rarely felt in Texas, a state that leads the nation in putting killers to death.
Newton, 40, is scheduled to die Sept. 14 for fatally shooting her husband and two young children in April 1987 to claim $100,000 in death benefits. She would be the third woman — and the first black woman — to be executed in the state since the Civil War. Her execution would be the 349th since Texas executions resumed in 1982.
Newton and her supporters consistently have proclaimed her innocence, but state and federal courts have on at least 10 occasions rejected motions filed on the Harris County woman's behalf.
With those facts established, most of the rest of the story clearly is intended to provide a forum for defense attorneys and activists looking to stop the execution.
The Chronicle devoted three reporters to this Chron Eye, weeks before the execution is scheduled.
Expect Mr. Kathryn Kase's newspaper to keep pushing hard on this one.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/21/05 09:17 PM | Houston Chronicle | Print | Comments (0)
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