Texas Inmate Facing Execution Challenges Veracity of Conviction

In Texas, an inmate is scheduled to be executed despite his legal team's assertion that his sentence is founded on deceitful expert testimony. Brent Ray Brewer, aged 53, received a death sentence for the 1990 murder of Robert Laminack during a robbery. Brewer's lawyers argue that prosecutors relied heavily on discredited testimony from expert Richard Coons during the 2009 resentencing trial. Despite their pleas, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed the appeal, claiming that the matter should have been raised earlier. Brewer's legal team expressed concern that he was denied a chance to challenge the unscientific and false testimony of Dr. Coons. Brewer's plea for commutation was also rejected by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Brewer and his girlfriend had approached Laminack before assaulting him outside his Amarillo store. Prosecutors alleged that Laminack was fatally stabbed in the neck and robbed of $140. Brewer was initially convicted of capital murder in 1991, but the US Supreme Court overturned his sentence in 2007 due to improper jury instructions. Mental health and childhood abuse, aspects jurors were not allowed to consider during sentencing, were raised by Brewer's lawyers. However, Brewer was sentenced to death again in 2009. Brewer's legal team asserted that Dr. Coons fabricated baseless claims regarding Brewer's conscience and potential future danger. They argued that Brewer had exhibited no violent behavior while in prison. Dr. Coons' testimony about future dangerousness was previously deemed unreliable by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in a separate case involving a death row inmate. Despite these concerns, the execution is set to proceed. Brewer expressed remorse and a desire to apologize to Laminack's family, acknowledging the pain he caused. Family members of the victim declined to comment on the matter.