[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 29



TEXAS----impending execution

US Supreme Court asked to halt Texas execution this week


Attorneys for a Texas prisoner facing execution this week for killing a woman 
in Dallas in 1999 are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his punishment 
after the top Texas criminal court refused to consider their appeal.

Lawyers for 64-year-old William Rayford say his execution set for Tuesday 
evening in Huntsville should be halted so the high court can review whether his 
trial lawyer during questioning of a witness improperly introduced race as a 
possible factor jurors could have considered when they decided Rayford, who is 
black, should die for killing his ex-girlfriend Carol Lynn Thomas Hall.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said Friday Rayford’s appeal was improper 
for procedural reasons and rejected it. Two of the court’s 9 judges say they 
would have stopped the execution.

(source: Associated Press)