USA - Texas. Victim's Family and Jurors Urge Clemency for Texas Death Row Inmate

Victim's Family and Jurors Urge Clemency for Texas Death Row Inmate. Attorneys for Tim Adams filed a petition for clemency urging the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend sparing Adams' life and to ask Governor Rick Perry to commute his death sentence to life in prison without parole. Adams, 43, black, an army veteran with no criminal history, killed his 19-month-old son, Timothy Jr., while planning his own suicide after a domestic dispute on Feb. 20, 2002. He pleaded guilty and has taken responsibility for his actions. (see MARCH 18, 2003 ). Family members and three jurors from Adams' trial have also voiced strong support for his clemency. Columbus Adams, Adams' father and grandfather of the victim, said, "Our family lost one child. We don’t deserve to lose another. After my grandson’s death, we lived through pain worse than anyone could imagine. Nothing good will come from executing my son Tim and causing us more anguish." Columbus served in Vietnam with the 23rd infantry. After his return from service, Columbus worked for the Houston Fire Department, attaining the position of fire marshal over the course of his thirty-plus year career. Additionally, Rebecca Hayes, Ngoc Duong, and Kathryn Starling, who served as jurors in Adams' trial, have said they were not presented with information about the defendant's character and religious background that would have influenced their sentencing decision. In an affidavit, Hayes said, "Those deliberations were the most emotional experience of my life, and I have carried the guilt around for years knowing that I sentenced Adams, a man who had done wrong but who was otherwise a good, religious, and hard-working person to death." Those speaking on Tim’s behalf include his son, mother, father, brother, sister, his son’s mother, two best friends, Sunday school teacher, and cousin.