Texas court pauses execution again for man convicted of murdering daughter in shaken baby case

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday again paused the execution of Robert Roberson, who was convicted of murdering his daughter in a shaken baby case.

Roberson's execution date was set for Oct. 16, and this was the third time since 2016 that it had been set, The Associated Press reported. His prior execution date was set nearly a year ago.

The stay was granted based on Texas’ 2013 junk science law, which allows someone convicted of a crime to seek relief if the evidence used against them is no longer credible.

Roberson’s case was sent back to his trial court in East Texas for review.

In his 2003 trial, prosecutors argued that Roberson hit his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, and violently shook her, causing severe head trauma, resulting in her death from injuries related to shaken baby syndrome.

Roberson has said that he is innocent, telling the AP last week that he never abused his daughter.

“I never shook her or hit her,” Roberson said.

Medical experts have disagreed on what caused Curtis' death. While some medical experts and other family members of Curtis maintain that she died because of child abuse and that Roberson had a history of hitting her, other medical experts say she died from complications related to pneumonia. Those who disagree with the conviction argue that it was based on flawed and since-outdated scientific evidence.

Roberson’s lawyers have also claimed that there is new evidence of judicial misconduct in his case. They allege the judge who oversaw Roberson’s trial didn't disclose that he had authorized circumventing Roberson’s parental rights and allowing Curtis' grandparents to remove her from life support.