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Texas lawmaker says Robert Roberson’s lawyer showed up at jury foreman’s home, here’s why he did it
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Texas lawmaker says Robert Roberson’s lawyer showed up at jury foreman’s home, here’s why he did it

HOUSTON – While tensions continue due to the postponement of the execution of the prisoner sentenced to death, Robert RobersonA Texas lawmaker claims his attorney overstepped the mark by showing up at the home of a former jury foreman. But the lawyer says there is more to the story.

RELATING TO: AG Paxton calls for Jeff Leach’s resignation after message to judge asking to consider new trial in Roberson case

According to an email from Texas Rep. Cody Harris of the 8th District, the jury foreman is tipping off (via his office) that Roberson’s attorney showed up at his home unannounced to “try to persuade” him to change his mind about the case. .

Here is the full statement From Harris’ office on behalf of Steven Cubstead, the jury foreman on the case:

“Last week, Gretchen Sims Sween, Robert Roberson’s attorney, came to my house unannounced to try to persuade me to change my mind in the case of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of murdering 2-year-old Nikki Curtis. Although I believe his behavior was deeply inappropriate, this caused me to review the case.

Everything Roberson’s defenders have said, including what the former juror said, is a lie. I did not vote to convict Roberson due to shaken baby syndrome; I voted to convict her because of the bruises on Nikki’s face, her crushed skull, and the evidence that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Roberson was guilty of murdering a 2-year-old girl. It’s been 22 years since this case and I can’t sleep at night knowing we convicted Robert Roberson; “He is dangerous and justice must be done.”

Allegations came one after another warring depictions About Roberson.

MORE: Ken Paxton and Texas House members accuse each other of mischaracterizing Robert Roberson’s case | Relatives of 2-year-old victim appeal to Texas lawmakers, highlighting evidence against convicted murderer Robert Roberson

KPRC 2 has reached out to Roberson’s attorney, Sween, for comment and confirmation. In a lengthy emailed response, he explained that he “asked the former juror to look at new evidence that Roberson’s jury had not seen before,” but that he “was not willing to do so.”

Among the new evidence, Sween pointed out that the autopsy report “clearly stated that there was no fracture to the skull.” Moreover, he denied the former juror’s claims that he did no such thing. He convicted Roberson based on the “Shaken Baby” theory – “even though there were 260 references to this hypothesis in the trial record, because it was the State’s theory.”

SEE ALSO: Robert Roberson juror says new evidence could block conviction in shaken baby case

Sween also noted numerous new documents and updated statements from the lead detective investigating 2-year-old Nikki’s death, including “regarding the unreliable ‘informant’ and other statements regarding invalid and unsubstantiated sexual assault allegations.”

“It should disturb every Texan that government officials are more interested in pressuring for the execution of a Texan than in reviewing strong evidence that the target of their attacks is likely innocent of any crime,” he concluded.

See below for his full statement to KPRC 2.

“I had asked the former juror if he wanted to look at any of the new evidence that Robert Roberson’s jury had never seen, but he was not willing to do so. The statement distributed by Representative Harris says that this juror did not convict Mr. Roberson based on the “Shaken Baby” hypothesis, but that there were more than 260 references to that hypothesis in the trial transcript because it was the state’s theory. Another juror (Terre Compton here: ) He stated that he convicted Mr. Roberson based on the Shaken Baby theory. Please see this document regarding the 263 references to tremors at Mr Roberson’s hearing: https://tinyurl.com/mr49vrax.

That juror also claims the conviction was based on “bruises” visible on Nikki’s face and her memory of her “skull being crushed,” according to Harris.

“I would like to remind you of the autopsy report (below) that was previously made public by the prosecutor’s office. On page 4 of the report it clearly states: “No skull fracture.” It goes against the basic laws of physics to think that a child’s skull can be “crushed” but not even cause a hairline fracture in the skull. Additionally, the autopsy clearly reveals that there were no broken bones. Furthermore, CT scans taken upon Nikki’s arrival at the hospital on the morning of January 31, 2002 also confirmed that there were no fractures to her skull.

“I also include an expert report prepared by a pediatric radiologist regarding this critical medical evidence that the jury never saw in 2003 and the coroner never bothered to review in 2002. These scans are objective evidence of NIkki’s condition when her father brought her to the hospital. He was locked in a closet in the basement of the Anderson County courthouse until 2018, making it impossible to fully examine medical evidence until nearly 20 years after the conviction.

“A rebuttal from Roberson Lawyers, including a new deposition from Brian Wharton, the lead detective investigating Nikki’s death, regarding the unreliable “informant” and other testimony. can be found in Section titled “Misrepresentation #11” on pages. About invalid and unsubstantiated sexual assault allegations here: https://tinyurl.com/y64zxfyc)

I also feel obliged to respond briefly to the letter published by some members of the Bowman family, who have been said to have committed a heinous crime against Robert Roberson’s own family members for 22 years. It is understandable that some family members’ distress over what happened and the story they were told over more than two decades has led them to speak out publicly. To our knowledge, the records do not indicate that these family members expressed concern about Robert Roberson’s care for Nikki prior to his tragic death; Indeed, Nikki’s maternal grandparents agreed that she would have custody of Robert months before her death, and asked her to look after him the night before his collapse. Indisputable evidence now shows that Nikki died from a fatal, undiagnosed pneumonia and complications from dangerous doses of medications she was prescribed. Finally, as the letter from Robert’s brother Thomas demonstrates, Robert receives support from family members who do not believe that he harmed Nikki and believe what science and medicine show; Nikki’s death was a tragedy, but not a crime.

We must remember that Nikki had relatives on both sides who loved her. (Please see the letter from Robert’s brother, Thomas Roberson: https://tinyurl.com/36rpktnp.).

It should disturb every Texan that government officials are more interested in pushing for the execution of a Texan than in reviewing strong evidence that the target of their attacks is likely innocent of any crime.

Other lawmakers, including Brian Harrison and Lacey Hull, also reacted in part to Harris’ claims in a joint statement:

“Blatant and provable lies are circulating about the Robert Roberson case. “Claims that Nikki Curtis had a ‘crushed skull’ and ‘fractured skull’ are so absurd that they would be laughable if the consequences were not so dire.”

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