Texas has executed a Mexican national despite objections from the State Department, the Mexican government and the World Court. Edgar Arias Tamayo was convicted of killing a Houston police officer after a robbery in 1994. But the World Court later ruled he was entitled to have his case reviewed because he was never informed of his right to diplomatic assistance from the Mexican consulate. In killing Tamayo, Texas ignored pleas from the State Department that it would violate international law. A Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesperson announced the execution.

Jason Clark: “Edgar Tamayo was executed tonight for the January 1994 murder of Houston Police Officer Guy Gaddis. Tamayo pulled a pistol while in the back of a police cruiser and fired multiple rounds, killing Officer Gaddis. When asked if he wanted to make a last statement, Tamayo said he did not. He was pronounced deceased at 9:32 p.m., 17 minutes after the lethal dose began.”

Tamayo is the third Mexican national to be executed in Texas whose case was part of the World Court order. In addition to challenging his execution on consular grounds, defense attorneys had also argued he was ineligible for the death penalty because of mental disability.