Texas resident Robert Robertson faces execution for a crime that experts say is impossible. ABC News reported this, pointing out the man’s possible innocence, Day.Az reports with reference to Gazeta.ru.
The sentence came after the death of his two-year-old daughter. In 2002, Robertson woke up to a girl falling out of bed. Having calmed her down, he put her to bed again, and in the morning he found his daughter unconscious with blue lips. Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the child.
The doctor who performed the autopsy noted the head injuries and concluded that they were the result of violent acts. The court also took into account the opinion of another medical expert, who pointed to possible shaken infant syndrome as the cause of intracerebral effusions, which prosecutors believe was caused by the father’s actions.
Robertson’s defenders are seeking to halt his scheduled Oct. 17 execution, highlighting how the scientific community is increasingly questioning the existence of shaken baby syndrome and the accuracy of diagnoses associated with it. More than 30 medical and scientific experts have asked the Texas Board of Pardons to review the case, arguing that the charges against Robertson are untrue. In their opinion, the crime of which Robertson was accused is simply impossible.
Lawyers offer a more plausible explanation, linking the tragedy with pneumonia, which the girl suffered in the last days of her life. She was prescribed medications containing codeine and promethazine, which are known to be dangerous for young children and can make breathing difficult, sometimes leading to serious consequences. Perhaps this is what happened in her case.