Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday commuted death row inmate Kenneth Foster's sentence to life, following a 6-1 recommendation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
"After carefully considering the facts of this case, along with the recommendations from the Board of Pardons and Paroles, I believe the right and just decision is to commute Foster's sentence from the death penalty to life imprisonment," Gov. Perry said. "I am concerned about Texas law that allows capital murder defendants to be tried simultaneously, and it is an issue I think the legislature should examine."
I confess, I'm shocked. I never expected to have this result. We had to fight it, but I didn't expect to prevail.
Congratulations, and tremendous gratitude to all those activists and ordinary citizens who rallied to Kenneth's cuase.
