[shieclulaweew]

LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...0,587595.story

A Mexican national who became the focus of an international dispute was put to death Thursday by Texas authorities after the Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, refused an urgent appeal from the Obama administration to stop the execution.

Humberto Leal Garcia, 38, was given a lethal injection for the 1994 rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in San Antonio.

His case drew the attention of the Mexican and U.S. governments because Texas officials failed to notify the Mexican consulate at the time of his arrest and trial, a violation of the Vienna Convention.

...

The issue has been thorny for Mexican and U.S. officials for a decade. In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Mexico and held that the United States had failed to comply with the Vienna Convention. The treaty obliges a host nation to inform the consulate of another country when one of its citizens is arrested for a serious crime. Its decision cited 53 Mexican citizens — including Leal — who were on death row in Texas, California and other states.

...

"Americans detained overseas rely on their access to U.S. consulates every day. If we expect other countries to abide by the treaties they join, the United States must also honor its obligations," [U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy] said.

The Mexican government, which had vehemently opposed the execution, said Thursday evening it had filed a formal protest with the State Department for "violation of international law."

"The Mexican government condemns in the most energetic terms the execution of Mexican national Humberto Leal Garcia," the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

[JessePex]

Thank you Texas, for once again giving the finger to international law. Sickening.