In About an Hour, Mark Stroman Will More Than Likely Be Put to Death

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Jul. 20 2011 at 4:58 PM

Rais Bhuiyan's attempts to spare the life of Mark Stroman, the white supremacist who shot him in the face and killed two other men he believed to be Muslim in the days following September 11, 2001, have failed: A federal judge down in Austin denied the Dallas man's petition for clemency that would have allowed Bhuiyan to meet with Stroman. Bhuiyan's attorneys are filing an emergency appeal to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans at this very moment. But the tone of a missive sent by his legal team is not optimistic.

The release also contains the following comment from one of Bhuiyan's biggest supporters, Rick Halperin, head of the Embrey Human Rights Program at SMU, which is where Anna first met Bhuiyan several weeks ago when he once again reiterated his belief that "by executing him now, we are losing everything." Says Halperin:

"I am not surprised but I am extremely disappointed in the callousness that the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Perry have taken toward these specific pleas for mercy and compassion and life from both the survivor and the victims' family members. It is now at long last painfully clear that there is no such thing in Texas as clemency for condemned inmates. It is equally painful to realize that victims of violent crimes who speak on behalf of mercy and compassion are to be ignored or marginalized by the stalling of top appointed and elected officials."

The execution is set for 6 p.m. in Huntsville. And I see here, on Kickstarter, that a New York filmmaker is trying to fund a documentary about all this. Soon, it seems, he will have his ending.

Update at 6:12 p.m.: Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials say the execution has not yet taken place. They're still awaiting word from the Fifth Circuit.

Update: Mark Stroman was pronounced dead just before 9 p.m.

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TimCov

It's to bad we chose to give this scum the mercy of a lethal injection instead making him rot in prison for the rest of his life.

Bob Loblaw

It was only a couple of racist murders. He said he was really sorry, and why would a murderer lie? By the way, if he wasn't executed, and later killed a prison worker or another inmate should we forgive that one too?

scottindallas

the alternative to not executing him isn't letting him go and giving him a year's supply of Blue Bell.

DLee

Was he executed at 6:00 pm?

Chris Danger

I had a feeling this ending was going to occur, but I still respect that Mr. Bhuiyan had the courage and strength to forgive someone who did something so heinous not only to him, but others as well. It looks as if Emperor Perry again is flaunting the law for his own purposes...dont worry folks, its eventually going to come back and bite him in his sorry backside sooner than later.

Jay

Chris, I respect your views on the death penalty, and I certainly respect Mr. Bhuiyan's ability to forgive this man, however without mistaking me as a Perry supporter which I am not, what law do you believe he flaunted? Its my view that the death penalty is so damn expensive because there are too many groundless appeals, such as the one filed on behalf of Mr. Bhuiyan's by a coupe of advocacy groups.

Chris Danger

Jay, what I was referring to was the fact that Mr. Bhuiyan was denied the right to meet with the condemed. Even if the guy was going to lose his life, this gentleman had a right to speak with him. Mr. Halprins comments above say it all..

Jay

Thanks for responding. According to several the news reports I read yesterday, the state provided a written statement to the 5th Circuit allegedly signed by Mr. Bhuiyan a few years ago expressing that he had no desire to meet with Stroman. The state also claimed that Mr. Bhuiyan was provided written notice of the execution date over four months ago and he made no request for a meeting until last week. One news story also quoted the widow of one of Mr Stroman's victims saying that Mr. Bhuiyan has no authority to speak for her and her family concerning the execution. Mr. Halperin's statement contains a bit of hyperbole, which is understandable given his advocacy.

Honeybee

I think many Americans are fed up with crime and criminals, white collar or otherwise.This could work in Perry's favor.Not saying I want it to, but just saying...

Steve

What a tremendous loss, how will I sleep tonight?

DarkCity

Watch this, you'll feel better...

http://www.theonion.com/video/...

Steve

Love The Onion, thanks. Look, I have complete respect for Bhuiyan's efforts. The world would be a much better place if we had more like him. I just can't imagine the pain the deceased'sfamily are going through, and for what? What has he accomplished? He's no better than the terrorists. He's a douche, good riddance...