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Edward Capetillo
Juvenile on Texas Death Row
From the NCADP : Sample Text For YOUR Letter To The Governor
I would like to express my sadness over the death of Matthew Vickers
and Kimberly Williamson. Murder is always senseless, but especially
tragic when it involves those so young. My heart and prayers go out
to their loved ones.
However, I am extremely opposed to the execution of Edward Capetillo.
Teenagers under the age of 18 cannot drink, cannot vote, cannot serve in
the military; it makes no sense that they can instead be executed.
There were four other men involved in this crime. There was also
another shooter: he was 24, had a criminal history, and fired his weapon
first. However prosecutors only sight the death penalty against Edward
Capetillo, a 17-year old high-school student and the only non-white defendant
in the case.
In Harris County, where 10 of the 28 juvenile-offenders on Texas' death
row are held, three out of every four residents oppose juvenile executions,
according to a Houston Chronicle report.
A key principle of International Law is that offenders under the age
of 18 should not be executed. The U.S. is only one of three countries
that sanctions the execution of children - besides the Democratic Republic
of Congo and Iran. That is an embarrassment.
Please stop the execution of Edward Capetillo and support legislation
that would abolish juvenile-offender executions.
Eddie as a child
Eddie as a young
teenager
Please send letters
to the Board and to Governor Perry requesting that Eddie be granted
clemency and his sentence commuted.
Texas Board
of Pardons and Paroles
Attn: Executive Clemency Section
P.O. Box 13401, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
Fax: 512/ 463-8120
The Honorable Rick
Perry
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
Fax: 512/ 463-1849
A LETTER FROM ONE OF EDDIE's PENPALS TO THE GOVERNOR Feb 26, 2004
HAVE A HEART - YOU LOSE NOTHING. YOU have the possibility to stop
new sorrow!!!
I please and demand you in the name of my friend Mr. Edward B. Capetillo
('999185) and his friends and family to STOP his EXECUTION that is set for
March 30th, 2004.
Edward did that that crime in the age of 17.
He was the only hispanic offender, too.
He had no criminal history before it.
He took drugs.
Eddie is no "monster" – he is a human who made horrible mistakes
when he was young.
He is all you would like to find in a friend, the best friend one can
wish and have.
He is patient, kind, is there for his friends / family and other inmates,
able to love, knows that it is important to learn from mistakes and did learn,
able to forgive, tolerant,never jealous, an art talent, very open- minded,
for peace, very smart and intelligent ...
I could tell you a lot more...he is all his friends/family/neighbours
and teachers said about him after the crime. I am his penpal since six years.He
could do a lot to help other young people… not to become criminal through
the experiences he made , also on death row.
I´m so sorry for what he and the others did to those young victims.
Ev´ry day I pray that they will find peace and that the one who survived
and their families and friends are able to overcome hate/anger and will find
assuagement for their heart pains as best as possible. Noone is able to
change the past. I would do all if I could to avert and stop what happend.
For them and also for my friend.
If you have no mercy for Edward Capetillo you maybe think of those who
love him and would be very hurt through his execution. Ev´ry life is
precious and worth to protect. God loves us all. I please you with the bottom
of my heart:
STOP HIS EXECUTION. Give him a life sentence instead.
Please set out his and the other executions of TX juveniles until the
new expected Supreme Court Decidement in this point of the death penalty
/ capital punishment.
Respectfully, Claudia L.
A Message From One of Edward's Penpals :
He loves: soccer and other sports, absolutly not shallow in writing
and talking, is very open-minded, a good heart, very tolerant, positive
thinking, likes to read fantasy books (f.e. written by George R.R.Martin),
loves all kinds of music, and writes often and a lot...Loves to surprise
others. He encourages me - in his situation :-) The best friend
one can wish and have. You see: We/ I love him much. :-)
Write Edward With Your Words Of Support
Edward Capetillo
#999185
Polunsky Unit
3872 F.M. 350 South
Livingston Texas 77351
USA
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This page was
last updated March 15, 2004
Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty
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is maintained and updated by Dave Parkinson and Tracy Lamourie in
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