Jasen Busby, TX

August 25, 2004

6 p.m. CST

 The state of Texas is scheduled to execute Jasen Shane Busby, a white man, Aug. 25 for the 1995 murders of 18 year old Tennile Thompson and 16 year old Brandy Gray in Cherokee County. Mr. Busby was 19 years old at the time of the crime, had no previous criminal record, and was under the influence of marijuana.

 Mr. Busby had no previous record of arrest or drug use.

 There are 19,000 murders per year. Approximately 0.4% of these murders end with an execution. Mr. Busby, a 19 year-old with no record, does not belong in this group.

 Who does belong in the group?

 While blacks and whites are victims of violent crime in almost equal numbers, 8 out of every 10 executions involve a white victim.

 Ninety-five percent of people on death row could not afford an attorney. Those who can afford attorneys do not get sent to death row, barring extreme circumstances.

 Until 2002, the group including the mentally retarded. Until 1986 the group included the insane. Today it still includes juveniles and the severely schizophrenic or mentally ill.

 Cherokee County had never tried a death penalty case before, and a jury determined that Jasen Busby would be one of the 0.4% to die.

 If the execution proceeds as scheduled, he will receive a lethal injection at 6:00 p.m. CST. Please keep him, his family, and the families of Tennile Thompson and Brandy Gray in your thoughts.

 Please take a moment and send a message to Gov. Rick Perry, urging him to stop this execution.

 http://www.democracyinaction.org/ncadp/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=90