Oct. 4, 2007

Tyler judge sets execution date despite court-ordered stays

Death penalty machinery still running; lawyer says judge is following
mandate.

By Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman

The courts may have called a temporary halt to executions, but the wheels of
death penalty justice continue to turn in Texas.

On Wednesday, a Tyler district judge set a Nov. 6 execution date for Allen
Bridgers, a high school dropout who fatally shot a Tyler woman in the throat
before stealing her car in 1997.

The U.S. Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals have blocked
two Texas executions in the past week. The delays were ordered while the
U.S. Supreme Court reviews claims that lethal injections - a three-drug
combination that sedates, paralyzes and kills - may subject inmates to
intense pain but leave them unable to cry out.

"It's baffling, because it doesn't make any sense to schedule an execution
date based on what the U.S. Supreme Court and Texas court have done in the
last week," said Andrea Keilen, executive director of the Texas Defender
Service, which represents Bridgers.

"It just creates completely unnecessary litigation" challenging Bridgers'
execution, Keilen said.

A message left for District Judge Cynthia Kent, who scheduled the execution,
was not returned.

But Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham said Kent was bound by a
previous mandate from the Court of Criminal Appeals to schedule Bridgers'
execution. When Bridgers' latest round of appeals was exhausted, the
original mandate went back into effect, Bingham said.

"Procedurally, setting the death date was the next step in this case," said
Mike West, an appellate lawyer for the district attorney's office. "Judge
Kent is really just following procedure and the law."

In Texas, the judge who presides over a capital murder trial sets the date
after all appeals are exhausted.

This is the third execution date for Bridgers, who has admitted to the
killing and blamed his actions on a crack cocaine addiction.

The first, in 2001, was delayed because his appeals had not been exhausted.
A 2006 date was delayed to weigh claims that Bridgers has mental
retardation, which would make him ineligible for the death penalty. The
Court of Criminal Appeals rejected that claim in September.

Three other executions were scheduled before the Supreme Court accepted the
lethal injection challenge last week. A Harris County judge last week
scheduled a Feb. 26 execution date for Derrick Sonnier, convicted of raping
and killing an Humble woman and killing her 2-year-old son in 1991.

All execution dates remain in force, and requests to block the executions
must be filed case by case. State prosecutors plan to oppose all such
motions.

"I believe that they should carry out the sentence assessed by the jury,"
Bingham said of the Bridgers case. "I'm hopeful that he will be executed on
Nov. 6, but I'm also aware that it's highly possible that it will not occur
on that date."

---

Source : Austin American-Statesman

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/04/1004execute.html

October 17, 2007 -A federal judge in Sherman has stopped the November 6th execution !

January 12, 2004

My name is Allen Winslow Bridges. I have been incarerated on Texas Death Row since May 16th, 1998. I am looking for a true friend who would be supportive of my situation, and that we can share many happy and sad letters together. I am also looking for a friend who is positive and has a sense of humor, because I need a positive friend to share my life with, as I deal with my situation.

I was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia and my family members still live in Virginia & Georgia. My birthday is on the 6th of March, so I am 32 years old. I am a strong Non-Denominational Christian believer, and I believe we're all serving the same God and His Son Jesus Christ.

My hobbies are old & fast cars, basketball, football, reading, and just having fun in life. My favorite author is "James Patterson", and my favorite books by him are the "Alex Cross" series. I am currently reading his new book called "Beach House". I grew up around the ocean all my life, so my favorite food is seafood, and I love butter pecan icecream.

I enjoy listening to all types of music, because I am in my cell 23 hours a day alone. Texas death row inmates are not allowed to have a television, so we spend alot of time listening to our radios. My love for music has to be "JAZZ" because it help's me to relax my mind and body. My number one musician is "SADE" cause every song she sing makes me feel as though we're sharing the same feelings, so I feel very close to her music.

I am looking forward to a true person who is willing to correspond with me.

I welcome all sex, race and religion to please write.

Thank You!

Mr Allen W. Bridgers

#999267 Death Row

3872 F.M. 350 South

Livingston, Texas 77351

U.S.A

P.S. I hope to hear from you soon!!

Allen Winslow Bridges # 999267

12. Januar 2004

Mein Name ist Allen Winslow Bridges. Ich bin im Todestrakt von Texas seit dem 16. März 1998 eingesperrt. Ich suche nach einem wahren Freund, der mich in meiner Situation unterstützt, und mit dem ich viele glückliche sowie traurige Briefe austauschen kann. Ich suche auch nach jemandem, der positiv ist und Humor hat, denn ich brauche einen positiven Freund in meinem Leben während ich mit meiner Situation klarkomme.

Ich bin in Norfolk, Virginia geboren und aufgewachsen und meine Familienangehörigen leben immer noch in Virginia & Georgia. Mein Gebutstag ist der 6. März, und ich bin 32 Jahre alt. Ich bin ein konfessionsloser Gläubiger, und ich glaube, dass wir alle dem gleichen Gott und seinem Sohn Jesus Christus dienen.

Meine Hobbies sind alte und schnelle Autos, Basketball, Football, Lesen und nur Spaß im Leben zu haben. Mein Lieblingsautor ist „James Patterson“, und meine Lieblingsbücher von ihm ist die „Alex Cross“ Serie. Zur Zeit lese ich sein neues Buch „Strandhaus“. Ich habe mein ganzes Leben am Meer zugebracht, sodaß selbstverständlich mein Lieblingsessen Meeresfrüchte sind, und ich liebe Eiscreme mit Butter-Pecan-Geschmack.

Ich höre gerne jede Art von Musik, da ich täglich 23 Stunden alleine eingesperrt bin. Todeskandidaten im Texas dürfen keinen Fernseher haben, daher verbringen wir viel Zeit damit, Radio zu hören. Meine Lieblingsmusik muss Jazz sein, denn sie hilft mir dabei, meine Seele und meinen Körper zu entspannen. Meine Nr. 1 Musikerin ist „SADE“, denn bei jedem Lied, das sie singt, denke ich, wir teilen die selben Gefühle und ich fühle mich ihrer Musik so nahe.

Ich freue mich auf eine ehrliche Person, die gewillt ist, mir zu schreiben. Ich heiße jeden, Mann oder Frau, Rasse oder Religion, willkommen, mir zu schreiben.

Ich danke Dir!

Mr. Allen W. Bridgers

#999267 Death Row

3872 F.M. 350 South

Livingston, Texas 77351

U.S.A

P.S.: Ich hoffe, bald schon von Dir zu hören!!