[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS

[Rick Halperin]

June 18



TEXAS----execution

Texas Executes Man for Slaying of Mechanic



Texas death row inmate Gregory Russeau has been executed for the slaying 
of a 75-year-old East Texas auto repair shop owner 14 years ago during a 
crack cocaine binge.

The 45-year-old Russeau became on Thursday the nation's 17th convicted 
killer to receive a lethal injection this year and the 9th in Texas.

The U.S. Supreme Court last October refused to review his case, and no 
additional appeals were filed for him in the courts.

Russeau was sentenced to die for the May 2001 death of James Syvertson, 
who was beaten, robbed and whose car was stolen from his shop in Tyler.

Russeau's trial attorneys acknowledged he took the car but argued someone 
else was responsible for the slaying. His fingerprints, palm prints and 
DNA were found at the slaying scene.

Russeau becomes the 9th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in 
Texas and the 527th overall since the state resumed capital punishment on 
December 7, 1982; he becomes the 9th condemned inmate to be put to death 
in Texas since greg Abbott became governor earlier this year.

Russeau becomes the 17th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in 
the USA and the 1411th overall since the nation resumed executions on 
Janauary 17, 1977.

(sources: Associated Press & Rick Halperin)

*******************

Executions under Greg Abbott, Jan. 21, 2015-present----9

Executions in Texas: Dec. 7, 1982----present-----527

Abbott#--------scheduled execution date-----name------------Tx. #

10----------July 16------------------Clifton Williams-----528

11---------August 12----------------Daniel Lopez----------529

12---------August 26----------------Bernardo Tercero------530

13---------October 6----------------Juan Garcia-----------531

(sources: TDCJ & Rick Halperin)