Gov. Perry to decide fate of Texas inmate set to die; parole board says he deserves clemency

Texas governor to decide condemned killer’s fate

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The fate of a man facing execution Thursday evening for his role in a fatal robbery was in the hands of Gov. Rick Perry after the state parole board recommended the death sentence be commuted to life in prison.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles made the rare recommendation Wednesday for Robert Lee Thompson, 34, who was not the triggerman in the fatal shooting of a Houston convenience store clerk. The shooter, Sammy Butler, was convicted and received life in prison.

Perry was not required to follow the recommendation of the board, whose members he appoints.

“The governor has received the board’s recommendation but has not made a decision,” spokeswoman Allison Castle said.

About two hours before Thompson could be taken to the death chamber, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal seeking to delay the lethal injection, which would be the 23rd this year in Texas and the second in as many nights.

Evidence at his trial showed Thompson, who is black, told detectives he went on a two-month crime spree in 1996 because God told him to do something about Middle Eastern and Asian store clerks who discriminated against blacks.

The killing was one of three he acknowledged. In two of them, Thompson told detectives he was the gunman.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Thompson blamed the spree on the recklessness of youth.

“It was impulsive … nothing planned,” he said. “Just — Bam!”