Whether or not the execution of Robert Fratta would happen Tuesday came into question after a federal judge ruled an expired drug used to execute death row inmates violated state laws.
Judge Catherine Mauzy in the 419th District Court issued a temporary injunction that prohibits Texas Department of Criminal Justice from injecting the prisoners with expired drugs in violation of the Texas Pharmacy Act, the Texas Controlled Substances Act, the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Texas Penal Code. The ruling came after a three-hour hearing Tuesday.
Mauzy's decision comes just hours ahead of the scheduled execution of Fratta, a former police officer convicted in the 1994 death of his estranged wife in a murder-for-hire plot he was found guilty of orchestrating. Wesley Ruiz and John Lezell Balentine, whose executions are scheduled for Feb. 1 and Feb. 8, filed the lawsuit in December against the use of expired pentobarbital.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lawsuit challenges use of old lethal injection drugs as Texas prepares to execute Robert FrattaFratta was convicted in the 1994 murder-for-hire of his wife. Lawyers are challenging Texas’ routine of extending the expiration dates of its lethal drugs, a practice begun when many pharmacies began refusing to provide doses for executions.
Read more »
Lawsuit challenges use of old lethal injection drugs as Texas prepares to execute Robert FrattaFratta was convicted in the 1994 murder-for-hire of his wife. Lawyers are challenging Texas’ routine of extending the expiration dates of its lethal drugs, a practice begun when many pharmacies began refusing to provide doses for executions.
Read more »
Robert Fratta, former Houston-area police officer convicted in murder-for-hire plot, to be executedRobert Fratta, a former Missouri City police officer convicted in the 1994 death of his...
Read more »
Robert Fratta case update: Supreme Court denies to grant stay of executionThe Supreme Court declines to grant a stay of execution to Robert Fratta, who is scheduled to be executed in Texas on Tuesday.
Read more »
Death Row Inmates Say Expired Drug Makes Execution Painful, CruelRobert Fratta is set to die tomorrow night.
Read more »
After nearly 3-decades on death row, former Missouri City safety officer faces executionBarring any last-minute stays, Robert “Bob” Fratta is scheduled for execution Tuesday in Huntsville.
Read more »