Note from Bob Van Steenburg of Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty: Larry Swearingen, who had been scheduled for execution Wed, Jan 24 has received a stay

EVENT CANCELLED Jan. 24, 2007, TX (vigil across from Governor’s mansion 5:30)

On Dec. 8, 1999, Melissa Trotter was last seen with Larry Swearingen in a school cafeteria. Her body was found in a Texas forest 25 days later, and Swearingen was convicted of the murder. Allegedly, Trotter rejected Swearingen’s sexual advances, and he then strangled her.

The state of Texas should not execute Larry Swearingen. He maintains his innocence, and the DNA evidence in the case is inconclusive to prove that Swearingen attacked Trotter. Since this is a capital case, and DNA evidence is available, the court should rely only on conclusive evidence. Also, the testimonies of two state witnesses are inconclusive. An appellate judge wrote a dissenting opinion stating that Swearingen is not eligible for capital punishment because there is no conclusive evidence that Swearingen, even if he had committed the murder, was committing another crime at the same time.

Please write to Gov. Rick Perry on behalf of Larry Swearingen!