Texas Court Halts Convicted Killer’s Execution; New Evidence Claimed

AUSTIN, Tex. â€”  The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Monday halted the execution of convicted killer Gary Graham six hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection, a court spokeswoman said.

Dozens of people had demonstrated outside the attorney general’s office Monday to protest the execution plans. Graham, 29, claims to have new evidence proving he did not kill a man during a 1981 robbery.

Graham had been scheduled to die by injection after midnight Monday, but the execution was blocked Friday by a state appeals court. On Monday, Texas Atty. Gen. Dan Morales filed the appeal that was later denied.

“You keep praying and hoping for a miracle. You’re hoping God is on your side at this time,� said Graham’s stepmother, Elnora Graham, who was among the 40 people who marched in front of Morales’ office and the Governor’s Mansion.

Activists in favor of the execution also voiced their opinions Monday. Pam Lychner, president of a newly formed group called Justice for All, delivered to state officials a petition signed by 1,500 people saying the execution should proceed.

“Gary Graham has received so many appeals and so many hearings. When is this ever going to stop?� she asked.

Graham contends witnesses who were not called during his trial will testify that he was elsewhere at the time Bobby Lambert was robbed of $100 and killed outside a Houston grocery store. He said other witnesses will say he did not match the gunman’s description.

Prosecutors said the witnesses are not credible.

Graham, who was 17 at the time of the slaying, pleaded guilty to 10 similar robberies where a victim was approached in a parking lot. In two, the victims were shot. In a third, a woman was raped.