HOUSTON (CBSDFW/AP) — Texas’ highest criminal court has commuted the death sentence of a Mexican man after agreeing with findings he was ineligible for execution due to intellectual disability.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday changed 43-year-old Juan Lizcano’s death sentence to a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Lizcano was convicted of capital murder in the November 2005 shooting death of 28-year-old Dallas police officer Brian Jackson.
Testimony at his trial showed Lizcano had the communication skills of a 8- to 10-year-old.
The Supreme Court in 2002 barred execution of intellectually disabled people.