Henry Skinner Execution Approaches, Rick Perry Called On To Allow DNA Testing

A group of current and former lawmakers, judges and lawyers is calling on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to grant DNA testing for a convicted murderer with an execution less than two weeks away. The letter, also sent to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and Gray County District Attorney Lynn Switzer, argues that the state should "ensure certainty" before carrying out the execution. A Perry spokesperson said that the governor wouldn't comment on the case and that it is a matter for the courts.

Henry Skinner, 49, has been convicted of the 1993 deaths of his girlfriend and her two sons in Pampa, Texas. Skinner, according to the Houston Chronicle, has said that he was too intoxicated with alcohol and codeine to have committed the crime. The Chronicle adds that multiple items from the crime scene have not been tested.

He came within one hour of execution in March 2010 before the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a stay.

The Huffington Post's Jason Linkins reported on Perry's role in the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted in 1992 of the murder of his three young children in what was deemed to be arson. Yet, subsequent evidence cast doubt on the forensic science behind the burn pattern. Perry scuttled the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which was looking into the Willingham case, in 2009 by firing three members.

Perry has overseen at least 236 executions, more than any governor in modern history. When asked in a September Republican presidential debate whether he ever lost any sleep over the possibility that someone innocent was executed he said, "No, sir. I've never struggled with that at all."

Skinner's execution is set for Nov. 9.

HuffPost's Jason Linkins reported on what Perry had to say when pressed on the death penalty during a Republican presidential debate last month:

[NBC's Brian] Williams simply asked in general if Perry had ever struggled with the idea that someone who was killed via capital punishment was innocent. The weak sauce allowed Perry to wriggle off the hook: "No, sir. I've never struggled with that at all. The state of Texas has a very thoughtful, a very clear process in place of which -- when someone commits the most heinous of crimes against our citizens, they get a fair hearing, they go through an appellate process, they go up to the Supreme Court of the United States, if that's required.

The Lone Star State Republican said, "But in the state of Texas, if you come into our state and you kill one of our children, you kill a police officer, you're involved with another crime and you kill one of our citizens, you will face the ultimate justice in the state of Texas, and that is, you will be executed."

Comments

[snide7242ca]

06:53 PM on 11/02/2011

All eyes on Rickie right now. Do you want him to be our next president? This is the ultimate reason to make your decision.

[ROLLANDO]

05:22 PM on 10/31/2011

Governor Perry may have put his foot in his mouth. He claims to be a Christian, yet, he did nothing to prevent or stop executions while in office. One of the rules of being a Christian, unless it is self defense, "Thou shall not kill." No?

[JRCNSSWV]

11:11 AM on 10/31/2011

This man claims he has taken Christ into his life as his Saviour?

Perry is clearly a liar.

A man this mean has no place in public office, if the Texans like him so be it, they were in love with George W Bush.....and here we are today.

[WykydRed]

07:46 AM on 10/31/2011

Oooops! That should read: "No one should have to beg for these tests."

[WykydRed]

07:44 AM on 10/31/2011

Why is a simple DNA test even an issue? No one should have to begged for these tests, whether it's a person in jail or other authorities! It's. A. DNA. Test. It should HAVE to be done, by an independent lab OUTSIDE of the state demanding the Death Penalty. Maybe the Supreme Court should be charged with stepping in and demanding DNA testing be given when requested in cases that state authorities say no to having done? Politicians are only concerned with claiming to be "Christian" and building a decent body count to show off to prospective voters. Perhaps the actual justice of defense should take precedence over self-aggrandizing.

[mrshep]

10:03 PM on 10/31/2011

DNA testing should be required in all Death Penalty cases. To deny it is wrong. Perry is not qualified to be president. I sure would like to know how the country could be so unlucky to get two Bush's and a Perry from Texas. How do they produce these people?

[snide7242ca]

06:58 PM on 11/02/2011

mrshep

They raise them like "good ole boys"!

[rboylern]

10:54 PM on 10/30/2011

This man has no heart. Interesting that he claims to be a Christian.

[Bill J White]

09:42 PM on 10/30/2011

yes I have seen him (Perry) saying in the article that he would not allow DNA testing on this man. He stated he was going to make an example to all criminals that if they come to Texas, and kill someone, they should expect to die on death row. All I got to say about this so called Christian man is--who frakin died and left you to be God. Perry was not even at the trial and he presumes this man is guilty. Funny how the evangilicals use the bible to get their way and don't live by it's words.

[snide7242ca]

07:20 PM on 11/02/2011

Bill J White

As Christians, it always surprises me when Christians refer to Old Testament statements that are truly not the word of God, let alone the word of Jesus. They use these statements to judge other people and forget what Jesus tells us about how to treat people. I think someone referring to themselves as a Christians doesn't automatically prove to me their true feelings.

[Bill J White]

05:27 PM on 11/06/2011

That's why I flee from some of these imposter christians that post their vial statements on this blog and many others. These people would probably nail Christ to a cross again if they had a chance because his views are not their views.

[madame fate]

11:14 AM on 10/30/2011

Perry sleeps just fine. He has let the onus fall on the parole board when it comes to executions. If a state allows the death penalty then that's their choice. But I would hope that all evidence, all DNA testing, every rock had been overturned and proved guilty before someone was executed.

With so many inconsistencies in some cases, with witnesses recanting or saying they were coerced into giving false information by police or prosecutors, using tampered evidence, ignoring or deliberately hiding evidence that doesn't see the light of day just to get a conviction... if I were a governor of a state that supported the death penalty, then these death penalty cases would automatically be changed to life w/o parole unless and until the convictions were completely overturned or the person was proven guilty as charged.

How many innocent people must die before we make damned sure that the prisoner is guilty first?

[drini]

01:07 PM on 10/30/2011

SO fanned and faved!

[WykydRed]

07:54 AM on 10/31/2011

Ditto!

[Bobinfl]

09:18 AM on 10/30/2011

They grant a prisonor a last meal, but not a last chance to prove their innocents.

[cichlid mom]

10:07 AM on 10/30/2011

The last meal is gone now too. They eat the meal served to the general population.

[SETexasLib]

08:41 AM on 10/30/2011

Somewhat like the old time gunslinger who knotched his gun handle for each person he killed, Perry is more concerned with adding another victim to his list of death warrants than finding out the truth. If Skinner is executed and is innocent, it will not be the first time that Perry has signed a death warrant for an innocent man.

I would not like to see this man as commander-in-chief with control over our military might and the lives of our children. Neither his intellect or his morals equip him to handle that position.

[l78lancer]

01:38 AM on 10/30/2011

What is it with the Mafia-like tactics of the southern GOP governors who simply eliminate departments, boards and commissions when they don't like what they say? Perry did exactly the same thing that the Republican Georgia Governor did when the Ethics Commission was looking into mishandling of campaign funds. The many of the commission members resigned because the Governor Deal cut their budget so extensively they couldn't afford to do any investigations. The governor's office is not their personal property. Apparently they don't understand that.

[Ken Roberts]

08:22 AM on 10/30/2011

But they're getting away with turning the Governor's office into their private fiefdoms and the states as their personal property. Who are the voters who keep electing them to perpetrate their frauds? And didn't someone once say "It couldn't happen here!" Wake up folks, it IS happening here.

Thank heavens for OWS waking up people across the nation. Now we have to find the collective will to stop these pariahs. So many crimes against us all, so little time to stop them.

[l78lancer]

12:26 PM on 10/31/2011

I agree, but because all politics are local the locals in each state have to wake up and do their part.

[madame fate]

11:23 AM on 10/30/2011

The arrogance of some politicians of being ignorant and proud of it, is appalling. I see Perry is comfortable living that way as well as a large number of other politicians, too. These people want to be our leaders, they want to be in charge of our country. Why does this not frighten more people?

Fiefdoms? That's what Scott Walker from Wisconsin has tried to do. He even admitted that he tried to run Wisconsin as though he were the owner of a company. In other words: "His way, you have no say". Now he's facing a recall for his actions.

Some people just don't know how to handle power and authority properly. These people should not be allowed to govern/rule a hamster let alone a state or country.

[l78lancer]

12:33 PM on 10/31/2011

Great comment. I thought that to government meant to administer and facilitate, not to dictate. Arrogance - hubris - is right.

[markinmissouri]

10:35 PM on 10/29/2011

Texicans must be SO proud of your gov. he doesnt seem to care if the convicted were actually innocent or not, especially by firing those looking into it. Repugs are SO FKD UP!!! you are against abortion but FOR killing innocent convicts. i myself, wish that women wouldnt abort but thats not my choice to make. they will have to answer for their decisions and im not making any for them. i have no problem with capital punishment other than the fact that so many on death row have been exonerated. people say, oh well there was an "eye witness" to a killing that may have happened very quickly, say, in a convenience store robbery. at an ivy league law school the female instructor had arranged for her class of 3rd year law students to witness a robbery. while she was lecturing, a man burst into the class, ran toward the teacher and grabbed her purse and ran away. after telling them that she was ok, and this was just an exercise she asked about 40 students to describe the robber. the only thing they could get right was his race and approx height. some said he had a beard. he did not. 2 said he was wearing a hat. he was not. thats what she wanted to teach these law students about "witnesses." do you want 12 people that arent even law students deciding if someone saw you kill someone? oh, and then sentence you to die?

[qwerty6040]

09:08 PM on 10/29/2011

DNA is jest a theory. Just because scinatists say we made of chemcals dont make it so. It need more study. TEA PARTY 2012!

[JMeyerAZ]

10:29 PM on 10/29/2011

Looks like another "uneducated" tea-bagger got an internet connection. Great.

[drini]

01:15 PM on 10/30/2011

I'm pretty sure it's sarcasm as I've seen some of their posts before.

[l78lancer]

01:42 AM on 10/30/2011

And you are the missing link.

[doriath22]

09:03 PM on 10/29/2011

So just do the damned tests, already!

[Bigwave48]

08:52 PM on 10/29/2011

This is a very insensitive person . Much like a mortician who cuts up bodies for autopsy. Its just
a piece of meat. I think a leader like this, is capable of some pretty horrendous acts. To have no
feelings, says a lot about a person. Their have been lots of people executed, for crimes they
have not committed. The states have had to pay the families for their errors. It does happen.
But to say it does not bother you. Thats troubling.

[markinmissouri]

11:03 PM on 10/29/2011

VERY TROUBLING, especially coming from a "Christian???" why is it that you see WWJD bumper stickers on vehicles with repug stickers endorsing this or that rightwinger? do they not understand what the initialls stand for? WHAT WOULD JESUS DO??????

[Edward Standley]

09:04 AM on 10/30/2011

I just posted on another thread a quote from Gandhi that seems appropriate here as well- "I like your Jesus Christ, but I don't like your Christians very much."

[l78lancer]

01:46 AM on 10/30/2011

It's worse because at least a mortician is doing it for a reason. Even if Perry believes in their guilt, with is losing no sleep comment he shows no compassion for their families - who committed no crime. And if the wrong person is executed the victim's family still has not received, justice so two crimes have been committed.

Perry is a knuckle dragger.