Texas Execution Information Center

Execution Report: David Martinez

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Before being put on trial, Martinez was given a mental competency evaluation. In January 1995, he was judged to be sane at the time of the killings and fully competent to stand trial. A jury found him guilty of capital murder in October 1995 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in November 1998. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied. In June 2008, Martinez filed a motion to waive any further appeals. After another competency hearing, that request was granted.

"I'm not crazy, Martinez said in an interview from death row. "Why prolong the process?" He would not discuss the crime, however. "I'm not insensitive to the victims' family, to my family, but nobody wins. There are some things not meant to be learned," he said. "I don't mean to be evasive, but what they have to realize is that publicity is not going to get more out of me than that. I'm sorry people are dead, of course."

Belinda Prado, 24, attended the execution of the man who murdered her mother and brother. She was accompanied by an uncle. Her grandmother, Rosa Ramirez, 72, did not attend, but was quoted in an interview as saying that she had forgiven Martinez.

"Nothing I can say can change the past. Asking for forgiveness or saying sorry is not going to change anything," Martinez said in his last statement at his execution. "I hope one day you can find peace. I am sorry for all of the pain I have caused you for all those years. There is nothing else I can say that can help you." Martinez also expressed love to his family and apologized for making them grieve. "I am sorry to put you through this as well," he said. "I can't change the past. I hope you find peace and know that I love you. I am sorry. I am sorry and I can't change it." The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m.

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By David Carson. Posted on 7 February 2009.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office, Associated Press, court documents.

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