Execution Report: Robert Hudson

Continued from Page 1

Hudson had three prior felony convictions. He served less than 2 years of a 5-year sentence for burglary in 1986 and 1987. A year later, he was convicted of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and sentenced to 6 years in prison. He was paroled in April 1989 after four months. (At the time, early release was common in Texas due to strict prison population caps imposed by U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice.) In March 1992, he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for forgery. He was paroled in October 1998. State records also show a conviction for murder in 1987, but no details about it were available for this report.

A jury convicted Hudson of capital murder on March 2000 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the verdict and sentence in March 2002. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

In his last statement, Hudson expressed love to his wife and a friend who attended his execution. "I will take you to Heaven with me," he told them. He did not acknowledge the relatives of his victim who attended. He asked the chaplain who stood at his feet to pray with him. Hudson prayed the Lord's Prayer and then said, "I love you, Chantal, I love you baby. I am yours and we are one. Let's go, warden." The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Hudson's execution was the 18th and final one in Texas in 2008.

By David Carson. Posted on 24 November 2008.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office, Associated Press, public records.