A Texas man is facing the possibility of becoming the first person in the U.S. to be executed for a murder conviction linked to shaken baby syndrome. Robert Roberson, 57, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection for the 2002 killing of his 2-year-old daughter in Palestine, Texas. Roberson, who has maintained his innocence, is awaiting a decision on his request for clemency from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
A bipartisan group of over 80 state lawmakers, including State Rep. Jeff Leach, has urged the parole board and Governor Greg Abbott to halt Roberson's execution. They argue that Roberson's conviction was based on outdated scientific evidence related to shaken baby syndrome. Supporters of Roberson claim that new evidence suggests the child died from complications related to severe pneumonia, not abuse.
