Texas inmate Ruben Gutierrez, who was set to be executed on Tuesday evening, experienced a last-minute reprieve when the U.S. Supreme Court granted him a stay only 20 minutes before his scheduled lethal injection at the state prison in Huntsville. Gutierrez, convicted of fatally stabbing a South Texas woman in 1998, reacted with disbelief and gratitude upon hearing the news.
Gutierrez, who has been on death row for the killing of Escolastica Harrison in Brownsville, has been fighting for DNA testing that he believes could exonerate him. His attorneys claim there is no physical evidence linking him to the crime, while prosecutors argue that his confession and involvement in planning the robbery led to his conviction under Texas’ law of parties.
The Supreme Court’s decision to halt Gutierrez’s execution is rare, as experts note that the majority of justices are often skeptical and hostile towards last-minute requests for stays of execution. Last year, out of 26 requests to halt executions submitted to the Supreme Court, only one was granted.
The victim’s family, devastated by the delay, has expressed frustration over the prolonged legal processes. Despite their anguish, advocates like Robin M. Maher of the Death Penalty Information Center emphasize the importance of ensuring due process, including DNA testing, to prevent the execution of individuals who may not deserve such a fate.
Gutierrez’s attorney, Shawn Nolan, highlighted the psychological toll that facing execution has taken on his client, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding in such cases. The uncertainty surrounding Gutierrez’s fate underscores the complexities of the justice system’s approach to capital punishment and the extensive legal battles that often precede executions.