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Texas man executed for 1994 kidnapping-murder

Posted on: Thursday, 17 August 2006, 19:31 CDT

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Reuters) - A Texas construction worker was executed by lethal injection on Thursday for the 1994 kidnapping, rape and murder of his 29-year-old next-door neighbor in San Antonio.

Richard Hinojosa, 44, was condemned for robbing, kidnapping, raping and then stabbing to death Terry Wright in San Antonio on May 10, 1994.

Prosecutors said Hinojosa broke into Wright's home, forced her to drive to an empty field in southeast San Antonio where he raped her. Hinojosa then repeatedly stabbed Wright in the chest and back and covered her body with grass.

Hinojosa was linked to the crime though fingerprints and DNA found at the crime scenes, prosecutors said.

Defense attorneys argued during Hinojosa's 1997 trial that he had been dating Wright when the murder happened, which would explain fingerprints and semen found by investigators.

They also suggested others in the neighborhood were responsible for the crime.

Hinojosa had been previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

On Thursday, in a final statement while strapped to a gurney in the death chamber, Hinojosa apologized to Wright's relatives witnessing the execution.

"I know you may hate me for whatever reason, the Lord says hate no one," he said. "I hope you find peace in your heart. I know my words cannot help you. I truly mean what I say."

"Kick the tires and light the fire," Hinojosa said. "I am going home to see my son and my mom, I love you and God bless you."

Hinojosa was the 18th person executed in Texas this year and the 373rd put to death since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982, six years after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a national death penalty ban, totals that lead the nation.

For his final meal, Hinojosa requested chef salad with ranch dressing, fried chicken, chili cheese nachos, fried eggs, French fries, onion rings, Coca-Cola and red cream soda.

Texas has nine more executions scheduled this year.

Source: REUTERS

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