Robert Pruett - Stay Given UPDATED

Robert Pruett

 Robert Pruett,  was prepared to die yesterday before finding out he had received a stay just three hours before his execution. Confirmed by the Texas Innocence Network, a judge issued a stay of execution for Pruett to allow more time for DNA testing.

Robert Pruett recieved the stay, his third in as many years, to allow for further DNA tests to be conducted on the weapon he is supposed to have used to kill corrections officer Daniel Nagle 16-years ago. His defence team are hoping modern developments in DNA testing will reveal if the DNA of the actual killer is present. The shank (a crude name for a handmade prison weapon) was tested at the time of the murder, but only the DNA of the victim was found. Pruett's team are hopeful today's technology will enable any other DNA present on either end of the weapon to be found. The team seem convinced that the taped end of the weapon will have stored even a small amount of skin cells from the true murderer - a test that was not available 16-years ago. This would exonerate Robert Pruett of the crime he has always steadfastly denied committing. 

News of the stay was reported so quickly via Twitter (and my little Blog) that even the Texas Criminal Justice Service were unaware of the development. There is currently no news on a potential time limit for the DNA testing. 

Upcoming Execution: Robert Lynn Pruett. STAYED

Robert Lynn Pruett

ROBERT PRUETT HAS RECEIVED A STAY OF EXECUTION. MORE TO FOLLOW...

Tomorrow, Tuesday April 28th at 6.00pm CDT in Huntsville, the State of Texas will execute Robert Lynn Pruett. As of publication, all of Pruett's appeals have been unsuccessful. Robert Pruett's execution will go ahead unless the governor decides to grant clemancy, which is highly unlikely. It is a case of third time unlucky for Pruett, who has already had two executions dates (2013 and 2014) stayed.  

While I always try to cover upcoming executions, Robert Pruett's is a little more personal for me. Not only have I followed his case, like many, since watching the first airing of BBC documentary Life and Death Row but I started this blog because of his case. In the 12 months or so since I started following Robert Pruett's case, my opinion on his innocence has changed greatly. While I once believed he was completely innocent of killing Corrections Officer Daniel Nagle, I am no longer completely convinced. I guess that makes me something of a fence sitter. All I know is the BBC made the documentary to appeal to the average viewer, they only touched upon a tiny amount of information regarding the Pruett case. 

No physical contact is allowed for Death Row prisoners.

My opinion on the death penalty is also slowly changing. While I once was a huge supporter, I now find myself questioning just how effective it is. Tomorrow, IF Robert Pruett is executed there will be another family and group of loved ones mourning the loss of someone special because of murder. Will Daniel Nagle's family feel relief? retribution? at peace? My guess is they will feel exactly the same, after all executing Robert Pruett does not bring their son/father/husband/sibling/friend back. Daniel Nagle's sister even supported Pruett's application for clemancy, saying that while she could never forgive Pruett for her brother's death she didn't see how someone else dying would make things better. It is life's simplest rule - two wrongs don't make a right. 

The video below is an episode from the Life and Death Row series screened by BBC 3 in May 2014. This the one Robert Pruett appeared in and I have included it so those who haven't seen the programme can see it for themselves. This episode is titled 'Crisis Stage' and follows two inmates whose execution dates are imminent. 

Watch the BBC3 Documentary featuring Robert Pruett here.

Huntsville, Texas

                                     

Happy New Year! Guest Bloggers Wanted!

                                                               

The death penalty debate still rages on...

First of all, Happy New Year to all who stop by and read my blog - I hope 2015 is a happy, healthy year for each one of you. Although I started this blog back in April 2014, I haven't had as much time to dedicate to it as I would of liked. This has especially frustrated me, because it has proved to be a popular....small....but popular blog. It is therefore my new year's resolution to spend more time on my blog. I have been lucky enough to have several people leave comments on my posts, all had differing opinions and all had a good point to make. This is why I have decided to appeal for guest bloggers. Basically, it would involve you writing a piece on ANY subject (within the criminal justice genre) that you like. It can be written as you want it, no matter what your opinion and your piece will be posted to the blog as is - it will only be checked by me for spelling errors. 

The Robert Pruett case has fascinated me from the minute I watched the Life and Death Row documentary over here in the UK. I was convinced from that, Pruett was innocent - of the murder of the corrections officer, Daniel Nagle - and that was that. Yet, when I wrote a post on this case, it received many comments, some from people who know Robert Pruett, others who are all to familiar with the TDCJ system and people who just knew more than I did about the case. I must admit I now sit on the fence with this case, something I never like to do but I believe these people and the Pruett case have helped me become more open minded. Something I would like to do for others. 

If you would like to write a guest blog piece, you can contact me directly at lollipopwrites@gmail.com . 

Write a post on a criminal subject of your choice...

Robert Lynn Pruett - Execution Date Set for a Third Time.

Robert Lynn Pruett

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Robert Lynn Pruett has received a third execution date for the 28th of April, 2015. Pruett, currently residing on death row for the murder of Corrections Officer Daniel Nagle in 2002. Pruett has already received two stays of execution, one in 2013 and another in 2014. The previous stays were granted to allow for DNA testing on paper (a prison report) that was found torn up on Officer Nagle's body. The results were inconclusive and now, once again, Pruett is facing execution. 

While many people believe Robert Pruett is in the right place, paying the right place for a terrible crime - he is not without his supporters. In fact, many believe the conviction to be unsafe, especially when Pruett stands to pay the ultimate price. While this is not good news for those who support Pruett, it remains to be seen whether he will receive a stay for the third time. 

Guards escort Pruett to court

Robert Pruett - Did He Do It?

Robert Lynn Pruett
(Photo courtesy of The Express)

I first became aware of the Robert Pruett case around the same time most people in the UK did, when the documentary Life and Death Row was aired on BBC 3. A compelling documentary, the second programme centred on what is known as "Crisis Cases". These cases are when a death row inmate is looking at an imminent execution date and is looking for any and every kind of help he/she can get that may get them a stay of execution. Robert's case was featured alongside that of gang member Robert Garza. Pruett would eventually get a last minute stay of execution, while Garza went on to be executed.

Robert Lynn Pruett is 35 years old and he has been in prison since he was 15. Which means he has spent more of his life locked up than he did on the out. Pruett's original sentence was 99 years without parole. This was for the role he played in the murder of a neighbour. Although Pruett was not the person who stabbed the man to death, his father was, Robert was convicted under the "law of parties" act. This means if an individual is behind the events that eventually lead to the murder, they are held as culpable as the person who does the deed.

Four years into his sentence at a Texas prison, prison corrections officer Daniel Nagle was stabbed to death with a handmade shank (the name for an often crude weapon made by an inmate from everyday items). While there was no DNA or finger print evidence, a report written by the officer was torn up and strewn all over the crime scene. That report was actually a write up for a violation allegedly committed by Pruett earlier in the day. This write up is what is believed to have made Pruett angry enough to kill. Pruett denies murdering Officer Nagle and has always insisted he had never touched the report. Pruett's 21/05/2013 execution was stayed to allow for the evidence to undergo DNA testing. The results were inconclusive.

In Febuary 2014 Pruett was given a new execution date, 21/05/2014 - twelve months to the day of his first one. However, in April this execution date was also stayed to await further testing of evidence.

While there is no doubting Pruett's guilt for the original crime, many believe he is innocent in the murder of Officer Nagle. According to Pruett supporters he is the victim of "bent" correctional officers who wanted rid of Daniel Nagle because he was "by the book". While these allegations have never been proven, two correctional officers left their positions one month after the murder. Pruett's defence also points out that witness statements provided by other inmates are unreliable as many were offered privileges or even early release in return for their statements.

So, what do you think? Could Texas be wanting to execute the wrong man or is he truly deserving of the death penalty?

UPDATE - 

Robert Lynn Pruett is set to be executed April 28th, 2015. When this update went to publication, his appeals for a stay of execution had so far been unsuccessful. You can read more about Robert here.

The Allan B. Polunsky Unit
Home of Texas' Death Row
(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)