The statement from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton "corrects falsehoods" from critics who say death row inmate Robert Roberson was unjustifiably convicted in the death of his toddler child.
The governor in November directed the state prison system to undertake a “top-to-bottom” review of death penalty procedures after the state was forced to cancel three lethal injections because of problems with intravenous lines.
Lawyers had argued he was due a new trial because the state failed to disclose a key prosecution witness was paid a reward several years after testifying.
The move follows the uncompleted execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, which was the state's second instance of being unable to put an inmate to death in the past two months and its third since 2018.
Attorney Bernard Harcourt, lawyer for Alabama death row inmate Doyle Lee Hamm, says Hamm’s injuries following Thursday’s botched execution were worse than expected.
Alabama lawmakers debated a controversial measure this week that would ease the penalties for marijuana possession. And for prison inmates on death row, they debated an alternative execution method with nitrogen gas.