The U.S. Supreme Court has announced that it will hear the case of a Texas man currently on death row, who has been advocating for DNA testing to establish his innocence in the murder of an 85-year-old woman during a home robbery that took place decades ago.
The case pertains to Ruben Gutierrez, who was scheduled for execution by lethal injection for the 1998 stabbing of Escolastica Harrison in her home in Brownsville, Texas. Harrison, a mobile home park manager and retired teacher, was allegedly killed during a robbery attempt to steal over $600,000 that she had kept hidden in her residence due to her distrust of banks.
Gutierrez has consistently requested DNA testing on crucial pieces of evidence such as Harrison's nail scrapings, a hair found wrapped around her finger, and various blood samples recovered from the crime scene. His defense team has emphasized the absence of any physical or forensic evidence linking him to the murder. Notably, two other individuals were also charged in connection with the crime.
Prosecutors have countered Gutierrez's plea for DNA testing by labeling it as a delay tactic. They maintain that his conviction is supported by other evidence, including a confession where Gutierrez purportedly admitted to planning the robbery and being present at the scene of the murder.
Gutierrez's conviction was secured under Texas' law of parties, which holds individuals accountable for crimes committed by others if they aided or encouraged the offense. Despite facing multiple execution dates in recent years, Gutierrez's legal proceedings have been repeatedly postponed.
