Execution Report: Robert Atworth

Continued from Page 1

A jury convicted Atworth of capital murder in June 1996 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in April 1999. In the meantime, Atworth expressed a wish to waive all further appeals. The trial court held a hearing and, in June 1999, found him competent to waive his appeals.

In his last statement, Atworth expressed love to his friends and family, and made several vague references to people with "malice in their heart" and "hatred in their veins." He concluded by saying, "For everybody out there that is like that and knows nothing but negative, kiss my proud white Irish ass. I'm ready, Warden. Send me home."

By David Carson. Posted on 3 September 2002.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office.