An inmate convicted of killing three teenagers while they slept in a Texas Panhandle home more than 25 years ago faces execution Wednesday.
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..
England also said when another juror “started going off about this Black guy killing these white teenagers … I told him if he continued with his prejudice, I would have to report it to the judge.” Balentine’s attorneys also allege his trial lawyers referred to the sentencing proceedings in a note as a “justifiable lynching.”
Balentine confessed to the murders. Sherrod said Balentine had turned down a plea agreement that would have sentenced him to life in prison because he was afraid of being attacked or killed in prison due to racist threats he had received.
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