Medellin Finally Executed By Texas

Defying the World Court, Mexico, the Bush Administration, and others, Texas went ahead and executed Jose E. Medellin via lethal injection on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. Medellin was executed for his participation in the 1993 gang rape, beating, and strangling of Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14. He and five fellow gang members attacked the Houston, Texas, girls as they were walking home on a June night, raped and tortured them for an hour, then kicked and stomped them before using a belt and shoelaces to strangle them. Their remains were found after four days, and after Medellin had started bragging about the killings to friends. There was no question of Medellin's innocence -- none at all. He was guilty, and no one pretended otherwise. However, his case went to the US Supreme Court three times, with the last appeal occurring on the day of his death. In a highly unusual set of circumstances, a per curium opinion by five of the justices denied Medellin's final appeal and request for a stay, while the remaining four judges each issued dissents. So if he was so guilty, why was his execution so controversial? The answer lies in international law. Medellin was born in Mexico and moved to the United States when he was three years old. After his original trial and conviction, he decided that he wanted to consult with the Mexican consulate, as it is the right of foreign nationals in another country to do under the 1963 Vienna convention. This right was, apparently, denied by the Texas judicial system, since there seemed to have been absolutely nothing the consulate could have done. Indeed, as it turned out, the Mexican government couldn't produce any arguments as to why Medellin shouldn't die on the merits -- only procedural questions. The Medellin case wound its tortuous way through the court system, twice going to the United States Supreme Court and the International Court of Justice in The Hague. http://www.EmploymentCrossing.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Jose E. Medellin
• Elizabeth Pena
• Jennifer Ertman
• International Law

[gcuellar82]

That SOAB is dead now but he deserved more than just putting him to sleep!!! DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!!!

[oicor2007]

lol...im glad they did not respect no

Vienna CACA treaty...jajajaja.

He is dead, Ihope he suffered..

im mexican and feel ashamed of this piece of shit medellin, seeeeeeeeeeeeee he makes good mexicans like me look horrible..

you see why US wants to kick our asses out of here..lol...well i dont blame them..lol....

[blackroseloki2]

I believe the movie "Jennifer's Body" was loosely based on this crime. Obviously "Jennifer" in the movie was based on Elizabeth Pena and "Needy" was based Jennifer Ertman. Diablo Cody should share her proceeds with the family of these girls. Total exploitation.

[blackroseloki2]

@chickwitthagoodies I know you requested this 2 years ago but I read the book twice in one week. What they did to those girls and others is the stuff of nightmares that Stephen King couldn't imagine. Ask me anything. I'll even mail it to you if you like as I don't want it in my home anymore. I grew up in a drug and crime infested neighborhood and have seen my share of dead bodies but this was horrendous. When they found the girls, there were thousands of maggots feeding on their genitalia.

[ARROB81]

Reading the book now. What happened to those poor girls was just horrible. My heart goes out to all the families involved.

[vicomatre]

@somedudefromsuburb And your proud of that?

[TheMaxDominguez]

hey gringo for u info its Medellin puto

[somedudefromsuburb]

shut the fuck up pacifart

[somedudefromsuburb]

what kind of prison system is that? the inmates should have already made nice necklaces from his intestine during those years ,at least where i live they do it to rapists.

[LaReinaDelBarrio]

And some stupid puta married him!

[cyanide585]

Yeah. The "Night Stalker" is a piece of garbage!