Perry denies death row inmate clemency

AUSTIN (KXAN/AP) - Gov. Rick Perry refused to spare a man facing execution Thursday evening for his role in a fatal robbery, rejecting a parole board recommendation that the death sentence of Robert Lee Thompson, 34, be commuted to life in prison.

In a statement Perry said:

“After reviewing all of the facts in the case of Robert Lee Thompson, who had a murderous history and participated in the killing of Mansoor Bhai Rahim Mohammed, I have decided to uphold the jury’s capital murder conviction and capital punishment for this heinous crime. There is no reason to set aside the capital murder conviction handed down by a Texas jury and upheld by numerous state and federal courts.”

Perry's decision came about 30 minutes before Thompson was set to be taken to the Texas death chamber for lethal injection.

On Wednesday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles made the rare recommendation for Thompson, who was not the triggerman in the fatal shooting of a Houston convenience store clerk 13 years ago.

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.