‘Free Melissa Lucio’ rally held at Texas Capitol Saturday

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As her execution date shortly approaches, advocates for Melissa Lucio try to make their voices louder. On Saturday, a nationwide day of motion happened throughout the nation.

13 cities, together with Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Brownsville all held rallies for her trigger. Supporters are asking for intervention earlier than she is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, April 27.

Lucio was convicted 15 years in the past of murdering her little one. Her attorneys filed for a retrial two weeks in the past. They mentioned she could have been coerced right into a confession the day her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah, died.

“With Rodney [Reed’s] case, it was 5 days earlier than the execution the place it was stopped indefinitely. I’ve religion, , it’s not over,” a supporter instructed KXAN Saturday.

On April 13, a letter from 20 Texas State Senators was despatched to David Gutierrez, chair of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Within the letter, the lawmakers requested Gutierrez to advocate to Gov. Greg Abbott that he “cancel [Lucio’s] execution by both commuting her sentence or granting her a reprieve.”

“New proof that has emerged since Ms. Lucio’s trial factors to the truth that her daughter, Mariah, died after a tragic accident and never by her mom’s arms,” the letter goes on to say. “A commutation or a reprieve would give her attorneys the time they should develop all of the proof that might show Ms. Lucio’s innocence.”

The case request for clemency is being thought of by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.