Execution Report: Donell Jackson

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A jury convicted Jackson of capital murder in August 1996 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in April 1999. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

David Smith, aka Darryl Scott, was also convicted of capital murder in a separate trial and was sentenced to life in prison.

In an interview from death row the week before his execution, Jackson took responsibility for the killing, but denied receiving money. "In my warped little world, I was looking at it like it's either my friend or some guy I don't know," Jackson said.

Prince Stubblefield, who was invalid and being taken care of by Mario, died about ten months after his son was killed. His brother, Curtis Smith, attended Jackson's execution on his behalf. "You are Mario's uncle ... correct?" Jackson asked Smith in his last statement. "I just want you to know that I wronged your family. I was not paid. I took his life for the love of a friend." Jackson also encouraged his relatives, telling them he was all right. The lethal injection was then started. Jackson was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m.

After the execution, Curtis Smith said he appreciated Jackson's apology. A 22-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, Smith said he wanted his nephew to be remembered as "a young kid that did the right thing by coming forth when he witnessed a crime."

"It's bittersweet because he did the right thing and lost his life," Smith said. "But with me being a police officer with Houston, I will still protect Mr. Jackson's family and friends to prevent someone from doing this to someone else's family."

By David Carson. Posted on 6 November 2006. Edited on 25 November 2009.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's office, Associated Press, Houston Chronicle, Huntsville Item.