When Texas executed Ruben Cantu in 1993, the state likely put an innocent man to death, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Cantu was executed for the 1984 murder of Pedro Gomez. Cantu was 17 when he was tried, with no previous convictions, but a prosecutor portrayed him as a violent gang member who shot Gomez and then shot the only eyewitness who survived and identified Cantu.
The newspaper reports the judge, prosecutor, jury foreman and defense attorney in the case now acknowledge the conviction seems to have been built on omissions and lies.
Cantu's co-defendant recently signed a sworn affidavit saying he allowed Cantu to be accused falsely. The man who survived the shooting recanted, telling the Chronicle he felt pressure from police to identify Cantu.
Sam Millsap Jr., the prosecutor, now says he should not have sought the death penalty in a case based on testimony from a witness who identified Cantu only after police showed him Cantu's photo three times.
"It's so questionable," said Millsap. "There are so many places where it could break down."
No physical evidence tied Cantu to the crime and investigators never interviewed witnesses who could have provided an alibi for Cantu.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
