The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has issued a stay of execution for Melissa Lucio, whose conviction in her 2-year-old daughter’s death more than 15 years ago has drawn renewed scrutiny because of new evidence and testimony in her case.
The court intervened two days before Lucio’s execution date and has ordered a trial court to review new evidence in the case. The Monday decision preempted an expected vote by the Texas Pardons and Paroles Board, which said it would not make a clemency recommendation in light of the appellate court’s ruling.