Man called mentally retarded executed in Texas

AFP, April, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A rapist-murderer who defenders argued was mentally retarded and therefore protected from the death penalty has been executed in Texas, the 12th person put to death in the state this year and the 13th in all of the United States.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced late Wednesday that James Clark, 38, was pronounced dead at 6:17 pm (2317 GMT), seven minutes after a lethal injection was administered at the Huntsville prison.

Clark, who was sentenced to death three years ago for robbing, raping and murdering 17-year-old Shari Catherine ...