Refusal of Grace to a Mexican accused of murdering his wife and children in the United States

MEXICO (APR) .- Unanimously, the Texas Pardon and Parole Board refused the pardon of Roberto Moreno Ramos, one of 51 Mexicans targeted by the 2004 decision of the International Court of Justice. Justice (ICJ). , whose execution is scheduled on Wednesday 14 to 18 hours.

Moreno Ramos, 64, from the El Ciruelo community of Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, is accused of murdering his wife and two children in February 1992. A year later, in March 1993. He was sentenced to death. .

Raymond M. Estrada, director of the organization's public information, announced that the board of directors had dismissed Monday by six votes to zero the recommendation made to Texas Governor Greg Abbott of postpone the execution to 180 days, and had also been ruled out to commute the sentence passed against the Mexican.

According to a briefing from the agency Notimex, the Council vote reduces the possibility of saving the life of Moreno Ramos, although Governor Abbott would still have the power to interrupt execution for 30 days by an act of clemency of the executive.

A jury in Hidalgo County, South Texas, found him guilty of beating his wife, 42-year-old Leticia Ramos, her seven-year-old daughter Abigail, and her three-year-old son Jonathan. The events took place on 7 February 1992 in the border community of Progreso.

The three bodies were found weeks later, buried in the bathroom of his house. Moreno Ramos was arrested after his wife's parents began to worry about his absence.

Counsel for the accused did not contest his innocence or guilt in the facts. They only asked for a new trial for his client, claiming that his rights as a foreigner had been violated during his detention and trial.

Moreno Ramos is one of 51 Mexicans targeted by the ruling of the International Court of Justice of 2004 (ICJ), which orders the United States to re-examine its cases because of the violation of their rights as foreign citizens to benefit from consular assistance, according to the 1963 Vienna Convention.

Although the ICJ ordered the United States to suspend the executions of Mexican prisoners until their cases were examined, Texas ignored the decision and executed five Mexicans targeted by the decision of the international tribunal, based at The Hague.

Earlier this month, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) urged the federal government of the United States and Texas to suspend the execution of Moreno Ramos and grant him an effective remedy .

Moreno Ramos would become the twelfth Mexican defendant executed in the United States and the eleventh in Texas since that country reactivated the death penalty in 1976.