Texas Executes Mexican National Despite Appeals

Despite pressure from Mexico and Washington, Texas has gone ahead with the execution of Mexican national Edgar Tamayo.

The 46-year-old was jailed twenty years ago for murdering police officer Guy Gaddis.

To ease diplomatic tensions with Mexico, US Secretary of State John Kerry had asked Texas to delay the execution. The move had been condemned by the Gaddis family.

Gary Gaddis, brother of the murdered police officer said: ‘‘We’re here to remind the public who the true victim is in this crime and to warn the public that John Kerry has no right to try to chain the lock to the Supreme Court and turn the keys over to the international community.’‘

Unable to travel to the United States to say final goodbyes, Tamayo’s family gathered in the convicted killers native town of Miacatlan in central Mexico as news of his death came through.

Mexico had objected to the execution under international law, claiming Tamayo had never been made aware of his legal right to seek help from the Mexican consulate.