Johnny Garrett

Johnny Frank Garrett (December 24, 1963 – February 11, 1992) was a Texas inmate executed for the rape and murder of Sister Tadea Benz, on October 31, 1981. His notoriety stems from the fact that he was only 17 years old when sentenced and has also been described by many human rights organizations as severely mentally handicapped. The state of Texas has come under heavy criticism for allowing both a juvenile and mentally handicapped individual to be executed.

The execution of juveniles was later ruled unconstitutional thirteen years after Garrett's execution, in 2005, in the Roper v. Simmons case. Had Garrett still been alive when this was ruled, his life would have been saved.

References

* [http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/statistics/deathrow/executed/garrett.jpgTexas Department of Criminal Justice Offender Information Sheet]
* [http://www.bloodshedbooks.com/tour.php?category=Garrett's+Death+Row+Letters Letters Written by Garret while on Death Row]
* [http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAMR510022006 Amnesty International: The Execution of Mentally Ill Offenders]
* [http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-children-stats-eng Amnesty International: Executions of Child Offenders Since 1990]
* [http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR510101998 Amnesty International: The Death Penalty in Texas - Lethal Injustice]
* [http://www.docart.com/catalog/Garrett.html Witness at an Execution: Thoughts on the killing of Johnny Garrett by Mandy Bath (AI International Secretariat, London)]