Execution Report: Alvin Braziel Jr.

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A jury found Braziel guilty of capital murder in July 2001 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in October 2003. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

One of the claims Braziel's lawyers raised in his appeals was that the judge erred in not granting the defense's motion for a mistrial over the prosecutor's alleged misconduct of showing White the photo from her husband's autopsy. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied this claim in 2003.

On the day of Braziel's execution, his attorneys filed a new appeal, claiming to have a witness who would swear that the prosecutor was heard saying, "Watch this," before he showed White the photo. The lawyers were unable to provide a sworn statement from the witness to the trial court by the time the execution was scheduled to begin, however, and so a stay was not issued.

In his last statement, Braziel thanked his friends and supporters. He also said, "I would like to apologize to Lori (sic) for the second time for her husband dying at my hand." He also expressed love to the White family and to his daughter, Tashell. He then said, "I'm finished. Warden, you may proceed." The lethal injection was started. He was pronounced dead at 7:19 p.m.

Braziel was the 13th and final inmate executed by the state of Texas in 2018.

By David Carson. Posted on 12 December 2018.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, court documents, Huntsville Item, Texas Tribune.