Una pequeña historia

Cuando iba al colegio, calculo que sería hacia el año 93 ó 94, uno de nuestros profesores tuvo la iniciativa de que apoyaramos a un condenado a muerte en EEUU, de nombre David Castillo, y que había sido condenado por algun asesinato en el Estado de Texas. Se trataba simplemente de enviar una carta cada uno al gobernador pidiendo la revisión de su caso, y en fin, lo típico. Por supuesto nos olvidamos rapidamente del tema y del pobre señor nunca supimos.

Yo había olvidado completamente esta historia, por lo demás nada original, pero el otro día la recorde por casualidad, y me decidí a "investigar" la suerte corrida por este hombre, lo cual no fue difícil. Lamentablemente parece que nuestras "súplicas" no tuvieron el efecto buscado, y al pobre señor se lo cargaron el 23 de septiembre de 1998, con una inyección letal (por esa época Bush era el Gobernador de Texas...)

Aquí pego una nota de prensa del día de la ejecución, la historia me parece escalofriante. Para convencer a alguien de que la pena de muerte es inmoral e injusta debería bastar con exponer los hechos objetivamente.

9-23-98-- TEXAS: In Huntsville, condemned killer David Castillo was executed Wednesday evening for fatally stabbing and slashing a Rio Grande Valley liquor store owner more than 15 years ago.

Castillo, 34, was pronounced dead at 6:23 p.m., 7 minutes after a lethal flow of chemicals was released into his arms.

In a lengthy final statement, Castillo maintained the innocence he had claimed since his trial. "We all know what really happened, but there are some things you just can't fight. Little people always seem to get squashed," he said. "It's all part of life." Castillo also nodded and smiled to his father and 4 brothers who watched through glass a few feet away. "Tell my wife I love her and I'll keep an eye on everybody," he said. "I love y'all. Take care. I'm ready."

As the injection was administrated, Castillo's family members yelled obscenities and 1 brother pounded on the witness-room glass. Castillo had insisted a friend of a cousin killed Clarencio Champion on July 14, 1983, and then fled to Mexico. The 59-year-old operator of the Party House Liquor Store in Mercedes was closing up for the night when prosecutors said Castillo walked in armed with a long knife and demanded his cash. Champion, robbed of an undetermined amount of money, died a week later of wounds to the chest, abdomen and face. When Castillo was charged with Champion's death, he already was in prison, serving an 8-year sentence for a similar robbery where the victim survived. "These were innocent people, hardworking people," Rene Guerra, the Hidalgo County district attorney who prosecuted Castillo, said of the victims. "They complied with every wish. There was no reason for him to do them in."

Guerra described Castillo, who was 19 when he was arrested, as cocky. "He was one of those young punks who thinks the world is going to revolve around him," Guerra said. "He's never going to change. He'd kill you in a minute, and that's the fear." Investigators linked Castillo to the crime when an athletic shoe's distinctive footprint discovered at the bloody scene matched a print at the earlier robbery. A description of the assailant from the other robbery victim also matched Castillo, and detectives found evidence related to the Champion killing at the home where Castillo had been staying. It took a jury about 45 minutes to decide on his guilt and 30 minutes to vote for the death sentence. Guerra said there was "no iota of doubt" Castillo was the killer. But in an interview last week, Castillo said: "You got the wrong guy. I hope you're satisfied."

Castillo was born in Chicago and grew up in Toledo and Defiance, Ohio. After he quit school in the 10th grade, he worked in New Mexico in the Job Corps but was expelled. At age 18 he moved to Texas, where his father lived, as part of a plea bargain in an Ohio assault case. "I would have preferred a firing squad because they stand you up," Castillo said. "I just don't like a belt on my chest." Castillo becomes the 14th condemned prisoner to be put to death this year in Texas, and the 158th overall since the state resumed capital punishment on Dec. 7, 1982.

Castillo becomes the 46th condemned prisoner to be put to death this year in the USA, and the 478th overall since America resumed capital punishment on Jan. 17, 1977"


(sources: Associated Press and Rick Halperin)

Y he encontrado una cosa más, una pagina en la que se cuenta cual fue el ultimo menú elegido por los condenados a muerte en Texas. Realmente para morbosos. David Castillo se fue al otro mundo despues de haberse zampado (y pego):

«Twenty-four soft shell tacos, six enchiladas, six tostados, two whole onions, five jalapenos, two cheeseburgers, one chocolate shake, one quart of milk and one package of Marlboro cigarettes»

Sin palabras (º_º)