On Thursday, October 17, the execution of a man charged with murder due to a shaken baby syndrome case was halted by the Texas Supreme Court.
History
Robert Roberson is a 57-year-old man who was sentenced to death after his daughter Nikki lost her life in 2002. The basis for this case was a condition called shaken baby syndrome (SBS), and its associated effects have been heavily researched since this time.
Roberson would be the first to receive the punishment of death due to this crime. Since his conviction in 2003, however, Roberson has upheld his innocence.
Prior to Nikki’s death, she was chronically ill and endured a short fall off her bed. The medical staff were initially unaware that Roberson is autistic and took his reactions to Nikki’s injuries to be alarming. The original protocol for the injuries Nikki suffered was presumed to be caused by severe shaking. This led to Roberson’s arrest, conviction and sentence. Since then, the cause of death was revealed as accidental and natural, unassociated with the shaken baby syndrome hypothesis.
Continued Debate
Supporters of Roberson have been calling for his exoneration, due to the evidence not taken into consideration during the trial.
Nikki’s underlying health issues began only days after her birth, including antibiotic-resistant infections and “breathing apnea.” She was sick the week leading up to her death, with a fever of 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
During this period, Roberson found Nikki after she fell off the bed. She arose after the fall, but the following morning, Nikki was found unconscious, with her lips turning blue.
Newfound evidence suggests that Nikki died of many different viral and bacterial pneumonia, eventually leading to sepsis and septic shock. This evidence claims that her death had nothing to do with SBS.
This news influenced people to call for Roberson to be taken off death row and freed.
What Happens Now?
Roberson’s execution was halted because of a constitutional conflict. The issued subpoena would allow him to testify in front of a House committee days after his scheduled death. This loophole abruptly stopped lawmakers from going through with his execution.
Robert did not appear in the State Capital on the day his subpoena was scheduled, complicating the case even further. It is unsure if Roberson is going to testify in the near future.
The outcome of this case is not yet confirmed. Roberson’s life was extended for now, but it is not confirmed whether lawmakers will continue allowing him to fight for freedom or move along with an execution date.
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