The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has made a controversial decision to reject a clemency request for Robert Roberson, a man facing execution for a case of “shaken baby syndrome.” Despite doubts over the evidence in the case, the board voted against commuting Roberson’s death sentence to life in prison or delaying his execution, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Roberson, 57, has maintained his innocence in the 2002 killing of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, in Palestine, Texas. The parole board’s decision comes after an East Texas judge denied requests to stop the lethal injection by vacating the execution warrant and recusing the judge who issued the warrant.
The case has reignited debate over shaken baby syndrome, a serious brain injury caused by shaking or violent impact to a child’s head. Roberson’s lawyers, along with a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers, medical experts, and others, have urged Governor Greg Abbott to intervene and stop the execution. They argue that Roberson’s conviction was based on faulty and outdated scientific evidence related to shaken baby syndrome.
Supporters of Roberson claim that new evidence shows Curtis died not from abuse, but from complications related to severe pneumonia. They are calling for a 30-day reprieve to allow for further litigation and to present the new medical and scientific evidence in court.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics, other medical organizations, and prosecutors maintain that the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is valid. The Anderson County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Roberson, has stated that the new evidence does not disprove their case that Curtis died from injuries inflicted by her father.
The decision on Roberson’s fate now lies with Governor Abbott, who can grant clemency with a recommendation from the board or issue a one-time 30-day reprieve without it. The case has sparked a national conversation on the validity of shaken baby syndrome diagnoses and the use of scientific evidence in criminal cases.
As the debate continues, the fate of Robert Roberson hangs in the balance, with supporters and opponents of the death penalty closely watching the developments in this high-profile case.
