Victims of Graham renew execution call

Police arrest protestors outside the Governor's mansion Monday

By SALATHEIA BRYANT

June 20, 2000 Web posted at: 5:18 PM EDT (2118 GMT)

AUSTIN, Texas (The Houston Chronicle) -- While protesters in Austin pleaded with state officials to keep Gary Graham alive, his victims lined up in Houston on Monday to plead that the debate over the convicted killer end in his death.

Gov. George W. Bush, meanwhile, said he was considering Graham's last-minute appeals before his scheduled execution Thursday.

State troopers from the Department of Public Safety arrested about two dozen Graham supporters, who had to be dragged from the driveway of the Governor's Mansion late Monday.

While a crowd of about 150 protesters chanted anti-Bush slogans, several Austin police officers in riot gear and DPS troopers marched lockstep, 14 abreast, shouting "Move!" before approaching the crowd, cuffing the protesters and dragging them to waiting police vans.

Graham's victims said the demonstrations turned their hellish ordeals into a political ploy. In a news conference organized by a victims' rights group, they expressed their wish that the execution be carried out Thursday.

Rick Sanford, who said he was robbed at gunpoint by Graham in a parking garage after Graham pretended to need directions, questioned whether celebrities who have called for a new trial for Graham would like him released to their neighborhood.

"We are personally offended by it, and it's all in the game of trying to abolish the death penalty," Sanford said. "Anyone who has sympathy or compassion for Gary Graham, they are either sadly misinformed or they don't care.

"I hope the criminal justice department has one less case to worry about after Thursday," he added.

Gary Graham faces execution on Thursday

Graham was convicted of capital murder for killing Bobby Lambert during a May 1981 robbery in a supermarket parking lot. Graham has gained local, national and international support for a new trial. His supporters include movie stars and political heavyweights.

Bianca Jagger of Amnesty International USA delivered to Bush's Austin office a letter of support for Graham signed by Hollywood celebrities, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the European Union.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to hear Graham's most recent appeal.

Now the only action pending in the case is the petition lawyers Jack Zimmermann and Richard Burr filed to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles asking for a full or conditional pardon, a 120-day reprieve for a hearing or a commutation of his death sentence.

Included in their information to the board was a 26-minute video of an interview with Sherian Etuk and a 23-minute interview with Ronald Hubbard, who both worked at the supermarket in 1981. Neither testified at trial, but they believe the killer was shorter than Graham.

Supporters complain that Graham didn't receive adequate representation at trial and challenge the eyewitness testimony of Bernadine Skillern. She was the only witness at the scene of the shooting to positively identify Graham at trial. She remains convinced she picked the right man.

But two jurors, Dennis Graham and Bobby Pryor, told ABC-TV's Nightline on Monday they would have found him innocent if they had heard all the evidence that has come to light since and if Gary Graham's lawyer, Ron Mock, had presented a more compelling case.

During a flight from Austin to Portland, Ore., for his presidential campaign, Bush reiterated to reporters his support for capital punishment but said he's giving thoughtful consideration to the last-minute appeals of Graham.

"People view me as a sensitive person on the subject. But they've also got to know I'm going to stand on principle," Bush said. "The principle is the death penalty is administered justly and fairly to save lives. I believe that. Not only do I believe that, the people of my state believe that. It's the law of the land."

Bush can unilaterally grant 30-day reprieves or he can grant other relief if recommended by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.

"In this case, I've been spending a lot of time on it. I'm doing more when I get back (Wednesday night)," Bush said. "I review each case very seriously."

Asked if he could intervene in cases where lawyer competency is an issue or innocence is claimed, Bush said, "That's what the appellate process is for. We're going to make sure we set the precedent for DNA (retesting). I'm open-minded about reforms to the system, but the appellate process is there to review, to make sure a person has full access to a fair trial."

Bush said he will be in Texas on Thursday when Graham is scheduled for lethal injection. He said he expects the parole board to make its final ruling today or Wednesday.

Police linked 22 crimes, including the Lambert murder, to Graham. He was convicted of 10 aggravated robberies but said he did not shoot Lambert.

Harris County prosecutors say Graham's case has been reviewed more than 30 times.

The four Graham victims sat next to each other at the news conference with one empty chair at the table marked for Bobby Lambert.

Justice for All President Dianne Clements said victims Lisa Blackburn, David Spiers, Greg Jones and Rick Sanford survived their encounters with Graham. Jones and Spiers told of being shot by Graham.

"Each and every one of them survived the manipulation, deception and brutality of Gary Graham ... ," Clements said, recollecting that Graham allegedly told Jones, "I'm just a hustler."

"He's still hustling today," Clements said.

Blackburn introduced herself as Gary Graham's last victim. She said Graham abducted her in 1981, when she was a 57-year-old cabdriver, at a gas station. She said he took her to a vacant place and repeatedly raped her. Eventually, they went to her house. She said Graham took her valuables, shot up the walls of her apartment and threatened to take her to the Fifth Ward and sell her.

Afterward, Graham got undressed and fell asleep. She then took his gun and called police, who arrested Graham in her apartment. Her ordeal with Graham lasted five hours.

"One thing he kept saying to me: `I've killed three people, and I'm going to kill you ... .' I believed him," Blackburn said.

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