A man was executed tonight by the State of Texas for the 1998 murder of a three year old child. Carlos Granados was the ex-boyfriend of Katherine Jiminez. When her marriage to another man failed, he moved from New York to Texas to live with her. Sometime later, their relationship faltered
She had told him to move out of the apartment that they shared. He did not want to leave and a brutal fight ensued. He stabbed her over 25 times with a large butcher knife. He also killed her three year old son with the same weapon.
Relatives of Jiminez were worried when they could not contact her and she missed work. They summoned police who forcibly entered the apartment. They found the dead child and his terribly injured mother. Granados was still there.
His case had been appealed to the Texas and United States Supreme Courts. All of the appellate courts refused to hear his case. His attorneys alleged on appeal that he had not received adequate representation at trial or on appeal. One of them said that it was sad that the legal system in a supposedly civilized culture had failed Granados. Excuse me, but people do not go after babies with butcher knives in a civilized culture.
In response, the local prosecuting attorney said that his case was so open and shut, that there was no real basis for the appeal. He had been found with the victims, one of whom lived to testify against him, with the murder weapon in his hand and their blood all over him.
One other item in this case struck me as odd. As Granados was being prepared to pay his penalty, he was allowed to make a statement. He told Jiminez that he had never intended to hurt her. Granados had a violent history which included causing serious injuries to another girlfriend and another young child. He had probably not intended to hurt them either.
Jiminez is now remarried and has several children. We can only hope that she has made a better choice concerning her mate.
Related Blogs:
Legal System Fails Child in Horrible Abuse Case
Child Left With Caretaker is Dead
The Child Protection System is in Trouble