The Texas death row inmate who was spared moments before he was slated for execution last week is a "bad man" who deserves to die, the victim's family says.
Robert Roberson, 57, has spent the past 20 years on condemned row for the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, in Palestine, Texas in 2002.
On Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court intervened and paused Roberson's visit to the death chamber in response to a subpoena issued by lawmakers, ordering him to testify on a date after his scheduled execution.
Supporters from both sides of the aisle have been vocal in their belief Roberson – who was later diagnosed with autism, bringing into question his mental capacity – was convicted of killing his little girl as a result of shaken baby syndrome based on now-debunked, faulty scientific evidence.
The investigation later on confirmed Nikki died from double pneumonia, pre-existing conditions that were treated with now-banned opioids, and undiagnosed sepsis, according to the Texas Tribune.
But family members, including her brother Matthew Bowman, aunt Jessica Rachelle Carriere and grandfather Larry Gene Bowman, claim Roberson is responsible for the toddler's death, afterall.
"Given the one-sided picture of Mr. Roberson that has been recently portrayed in the media, we feel obliged to speak up and defend the real victim in this case whose life was taken by the hands of Robert Roberson, Nikki Curtis. Nikki's story must be told," the family said in a letter, describing Roberson as a "bad man," according to KYTX-TV.
Republican State Rep. Cody Harris delivered the letter to the Texas House on Criminal Jurisprudence.
"We believe his death sentence should be carried out based on the facts of this case, which remain true today, as well the overwhelming evidence that was presented at the trial that led to the jury's verdict," it read. "Furthermore, the shaken baby theory, upon which much of your hearing relied, was already used by Roberson's defense team in the original trial and found not to be credible."
In the letter, the family claimed a medical examiner found Nikki suffered bruising to her face and the back of her skull, mouth injuries, and trauma to her spine and brain. Her death was reportedly determined to be a result of blunt force head injuries – not shaken baby syndrome – loved ones said, the outlet reported.
Additionally, family members alleged Roberson had a history of sexually and physically abusing his daughter, as well as another little girl, according to the letter.
"Despite all of these facts we all kept an open mind and were ready to receive new information leading up to and during the trial that might have shown him to be innocent," the letter continued. "The only thing we have ever wanted was to know what happened to Nikki, and what caused her death. After hearing countless hours of testimony that was presented, we remain convinced that Mr. Roberson is guilty and directly responsible for Nikki's death."
Roberson is expected to testify Monday.
