An inmate convicted of killing three teenagers while they slept in a Texas Panhandle home more than 25 years ago faces execution Wednesday amid allegations that his trial was marred by racial bias.
It had been unclear whether John Balentine's execution, scheduled for Wednesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, would go forward after a judge withdrew Balentine's execution date and warrant last week. The judge delayed the execution because the inmate's attorneys had not been properly notified of the upcoming lethal injection. Such notification is required under state law.
Caylor was the brother of Balentine's former girlfriend, and prosecutors said the shootings were the result of a feud between Caylor and Balentine. Prosecutors said all three victims were shot once in the head as they slept. Balentine said he had received threats over his interracial relationship with Caylor's sister. Balentine is Black. The three victims were white.
Part of their petition included a statement from Lola Perkins, who had been married to England's brother and who said England "was racist against Black people because that is how he was raised." Balentine's attorneys also allege prosecutors used their ability to make objections during jury selection to remove all prospective Black jurors from serving at his trial.
Randall Sherrod, one of Balentine's trial attorneys, said Wednesday he could not remember the note but denied that he or the other attorney, James Durham Jr., had any racist attitudes toward Balentine. Durham died in 2006.
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