Mexico City - Jose Ernesto Medellin, a Mexican national convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of two Texas girls, was executed Tuesday night in Texas after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant a reprieve.
"I'm sorry my actions caused you pain. I hope this brings you the closure that you seek. Never harbor hate," Medellin, 33, told those gathered to watch him die. He was pronounced dead at 9:57 p.m. local time.
Demonstrations had been held in Mexico in anticipation of the execution. The controversy surrounding his execution, as well as concern here over the fate of 50 other Mexican citizens on U.S. death rows, appears likely to continue.
"It is striking the difference of perspective between the United States and many other countries," said David Fathi, U.S. program director for the group Human Rights Watch, which had opposed the execution.
"I think that [this] illustrates the widening gap."
Medellin was 18 when he and five fellow gang members raped Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 14, then beat and strangled them. Medellin later boasted to friends about the deed.
The buildup to Tuesday's execution drew worldwide attention and involved a host of players and institutions beyond the United States and Mexico.
The International Court of Justice in The Hague sided in 2004 with the Mexican government's argument that the United States had violated the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by failing to inform the arrested Mexican nationals of their right to seek help from the Mexican Consulate.
Mexico has asked that all 51 convictions be reviewed, creating the possibility for new trials or outright dismissals. The Hague court had ordered the United States not to execute any of five men on death row in Texas while the court reviewed their cases.
But the court, a branch of the United Nations, has no power to enforce its rulings. A spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, has said that "the world court has no standing in Texas."
The Bush administration had intervened in support of the Mexican government, urging Texas prosecutors to reopen the death row cases.
But in March, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the administration's arguments, ruling 6-3 that under the Constitution, the president did not have the "unilateral authority" to compel state officials to comply with an international treaty.
The issue of capital punishment for Mexicans convicted of crimes in the United States is extremely sensitive here, driven by the perception that Mexicans convicted of capital crimes north of the border are more likely than U.S. citizens to face the death penalty.
Capital punishment was abolished in Mexico in 2005 during the Vicente Fox presidency.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International contend that executing foreign citizens in opposition to the court order could put U.S. citizens abroad at risk of being convicted and even executed for crimes without having access to U.S. consulates or embassies.
In a Monday opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Jeffrey Davidow expressed that same view.
The heated debate in both countries over immigration policy probably has contributed to the controversy surrounding the execution.
"I think because of the politics around immigration more broadly, the fact that Mr. Medellin is Mexican rather than Swedish, does make a difference," said Fathi, of Human Rights Watch.
"It certainly does play into a bigger debate and bigger fears that many people have about immigration from Mexico."
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- goldenways
- added this
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- merasyad
- added August 06, 2008
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" Im sorry that my action caused you pain...." I dont think that killing him was the right thing to do here. He should have been rapped and stangled. Monsters like this should reap what they sow. It makes no difference what his ehtnicity is. If he were Swedish, i would feel the same damn way.
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The punishment fits the crime..... at least as far as our own laws allow.
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- regjoeschmo
- 5 months ago
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Oh well.
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Ah, yes. Death penalty. That which:
shows how smart & civilized we are, unites people, makes the past crimes all better, brings back the dead, gives everyone a 2nd chance, et cetera.
I'm not defending Medellin, or any major criminal, but,... they didn't have the right to kill, and neither should the legal system. What seems more barbaric; one crazy person committing murder,... or,... hundreds/thousands of people wanting one person dead?!!? No hypotheticals, please.Guess what thou shalt not do?
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adios wetto!
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Im sorry that piece of crap got what he deserves and even though I can't stand Texas I have to give them kudos for ignoring a world court.
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- Bandgeek89
- 5 months ago
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It stinks we can't forgive people but I hope he rots in hell
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A rapist and murderer is a rapist and murderer regardless of where they come from. I'm sure the world will be just fine without him.
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- damnneargenius
- 5 months ago
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Dammed Chinese, executing people!!. Ooops wrong country and board.
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What the heck took so long? Should have happened years ago.
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I guess he probably should have stayed in Mexico.
I say good job Texas! Now lets whack the other 50 deathrow Mexicans and show the rest of them bastards that we are not going to stand for them fuckers coming here to rape, pillage, and murder at their whim.
I have no problms with people coming here and trying to make an honest living but the rest of you dregs can stay the fuck in your own country.
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- Abamanation
- 5 months ago
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It never ceases to amaze me how hard murders fight to save their lives when they are on death row. Honestly, where was the compassion when you were robbing the victim of their future.
The death penalty is reserved for the most heinous of crimes, and other countries like Mexico should focus more on their near 3rd world like status, rather than the affairs of Texas.
Good on ya Texas... sometimes I wish there was a death penalty here in Oz.
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This is a good reason not to goto another country and commit haines crimes, regardless of your nationality
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- iamwilliamhello
- 5 months ago
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Good riddance, rot in pain you piece of shit!
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- Liberal_Extinction
- 5 months ago
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I'm conflicted. On one hand, he is a murderer and a rapist and he broke the laws of our country by murdering and raping in Texas. On the other hand, how often does the US let its citizens be executed overseas?
While I think there is some merit to the claim that Mexicans who break the law in the US are punished more harshly (because white rapists are rarely punished at all), I can't really feel pity for this dude or to the Mexican government for sticking up for him.
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This is how on the IRAKI current TV (I magine of course) board, someone would write:
"I guess he probably should have stayed in the US.
I say good job Kirkurk! Now lets whack the other 50 deathrow Americans and show the rest of them bastards that we are not going to stand for them fuckers coming here to rape, pillage, and murder at their whim.
I have no problms with people coming here in PEACE and trying to make an honest living but the rest of you dregs can stay the fuck in your own country."
I can imagine 20 other countries but any relation with reality is pure coincidence.
Lets put things in context and leave the bloody intolerance home. The guy committed a crime yes, should be punish yes, but eye for an eye is not the solution.
PS: Thanks Abamanation for the script.
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A(not I) rapist and a murderer regardless of what country they are in should be dealt with, whichever way the country they raped and murdered in see fit.
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Very interesting comments here. The Real American Spirit!
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- usumacinta
- 5 months ago
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You know what, too bad but don't murder and rape people in another country and the Texas Court won't have to kill you. It's that simple.
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There is a contradiction when you kill someone VIOLATING the law. Yes, he rape and kill but there are other facts and eye for and eye never fits as the solution to the cause (s). NO ONE has the right to kill no one!
http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/nationalsJMedellin.cfm
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- NOTOTHEWALL
- 5 months ago
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i really wish you could buy tickets to attend this shit .
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Thats one less piece of garbage we need to feed,clothe,and house at taxpayer expense.Now we need to do away with endless delays and appeals that prevent us from executing all the other rapists and murders in a timely manner.
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- squilla1123
- 5 months ago
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Well that really puts a new spin on the "Dont Mess With Texas " slogan.
And before anyone bashs me, let me tell you. I live in Texas and have my entire life. I have absolutely nothing against any other race or religion on this planet, but if you go to any other country then you have to abso-fuckin-lutely follow their laws or expect the consequence of your action. In this case i think the punishment fit the crime. At least this isnt Iran where you can be put to death for having alcohol.
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- Prodius420
- 5 months ago
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the only thing that makes me mad in this story is that it took so much time and taxpayer dollars to finally end this worthless person.
come to our country, you will be tried by our laws.
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What took them so long we had to feed this scum for 15 years.
