Tests administered to Woods put his IQ anywhere from the 60s to the 80s. An IQ of 70 is considered the threshold for mental impairment.
Woods was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to die for the April 1997 slaying of Sarah Patterson, his ex-girlfriend’s daughter. She and her 9-year-old brother were snatched from their home in Granbury, near Fort Worth. Sarah’s throat was slit with a knife. Her brother was beaten and left for dead but survived to testify against Woods.
Asked by a warden if he had a final statement, Woods lifted his head from the pillow on the death chamber gurney and replied: “Bye. I’m ready.”
Eight minutes later, at 6:40 p.m. CST, he was pronounced dead.
–MICHAEL GRACZYK (AP)
* * * * *
Bobby Wayne Woods is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, December 3, 2009; if this proceeds, it will be the last (and 24th) execution to take place in Texas this year. Woods was sentenced to death for the murder of 11-year-old Sarah Patterson in 1997; this is his third execution date in two years. His lawyers have appealed for clemency based on evidence that Woods has mental retardation.
The U.S. Supreme Court prohibited the death penalty for persons with mental retardation in 2002 (Atkins v.Virginia), but left it to the states to define retardation. The Texas Legislature still has not modified the Code of Criminal Procedure to comply with the Atkins decision.
Amnesty International has issued an Urgent Action for this case. Please use the following talking points from Amnesty in your appeals for clemency for Bobby Wayne Woods:
- Recognizing the serious crime in this case and the suffering caused;
- Noting evidence that Bobby Woods has mental retardation, and that while the courts may lack flexibility when seeking to determine who is exempted from execution under Atkins v. Virginia, the Board should not;
- Expressing concern that the performance of his initial appeal lawyer may have prejudiced his case;
- Calling for clemency for Bobby Woods and for commutation of his death sentence.
Governor Rick Perry’s Office:
- Citizen’s Opinion Hotline: (800) 252-9600 [for Texas callers]
- Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline: (512) 463-1782 [for Austin , Texas and out-of-state callers]
Board of Pardons and Paroles:
- Phone (512) 406-5852
- Fax (512) 467-0945
* * * * *
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 3 DECEMBER 2009 TO:
Rissie L. Owens, Presiding Officer, Board of Pardons and Paroles, Executive Clemency Section
8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78757, USA
Fax: + 1 512 467 0945
Salutation: Dear Ms Owens
* * * * *
Governor Rick Perry
Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428, USA
Fax: + 1 512 463 1849
Salutation: Dear Governor
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives of the USA accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.