‘Fighting for momma bear’: Melissa Lucio’s son begs Texas to halt her execution for a crime he knows ‘she couldn’t have done’

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Melissa Lucio was repeatedly raped as a child, became a child bride at 16 and had 14 children to two abusive partners As Sandra Babcock, faculty director of the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide and one of Lucio’s attorneys, tells The Independent “take your pick”. Seeing both Republicans and Democrats come together – in a historically pro-death penalty state – and demand Lucio’s life be saved shows the level of “injustice” in her story, says Ms Babcock. On the aspect of vengeance, Ms Babcock points out that – aside from Mariah – the victims of the alleged crime here are Lucio’s other children “who all want their mother to live”. Ms Babcock says Lucio’s legal team isn’t confident the DA will stick to his word, however, after he said “different things at different times” during the hearing.