Despite Criticism: Death Sentence Against Triple Murderer Enforced In Texas

In the US, a convicted murderer has been executed. The execution of the death penalty caused violent international protests. In that case, human rights were violated.

Despite international protests, a 64-year-old Mexican was executed for murder in the US state of Texas. The 1993 death sentence handed down to Roberto Moreno Ramos was inflicted with lethal injection in Huntsville Prison, authorities said. Ramos had killed his wife and seven and three-year-old children in the city of Progreso near the Mexican border in 1992.

During the 25 years since the death sentence was pronounced, Ramos' lawyers had repeatedly referred to alleged brain damage and mental health issues of their mandate. The Mexican state and human rights organizations complained that Ramos had not been informed by US investigators of his right to legal assistance from the Mexican Consulate.

Strong criticism of execution
The Mexican government said on Monday that the execution of the 64-year-old would constitute a "monstrous violation of human rights and international law". UN experts also criticized the planned execution.

Following a Mexican lawsuit in 2003, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered a reopening of the case. However, the US Supreme Court dismissed this in 2008. Since then, five Mexican nationals have been executed in the United States, according to the Information Center on the Death Penalty. In total, 20 people were executed in the US this year, ten of them in Texas.

Francis Tawiah (Duisburg - Germany)