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August 15, 2002
HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- A man convicted of killing a Dallas police officer in 1988 was executed Wednesday despite protests that putting him to death violated international law.
Mexican President Vicente Fox canceled a trip to Texas and a meeting with President Bush to protest the execution.
Fox had announced an Aug. 26-28 visit to four Texas cities and to Bush's ranch. But at a hastily organized news conference Wednesday night, presidential spokesman Rodolfo Elizondo said Fox wouldn't make the trip because Texas executed Javier Suarez Medina, who Fox says was a Mexican national.
Just before his execution, Suarez apologized for the crime, asked forgiveness from the relatives of the slain police officer and thanked the people of Mexico for their support in his case.
"I'd like to apologize to the Cadena family for whatever hurt and suffering I've caused them," he said in a statement that lasted several minutes. "I sincerely ask in your heart to forgive me."
The mother and son of the officer were among the execution witnesses.
Court appeals and protests against the execution argued Suarez was not told he could contact the Mexican consulate for help after his arrest, violating the 1963 Vienna Convention of Consular Relations, which the United States has signed.
Dallas authorities have said Suarez, 33, identified both Mexico and Texas as his birthplace. He spent most of his life in the United States and spoke English.
The U.S. Supreme Court, without comment, turned down the appeal about 90 minutes before the scheduled execution. Gov. Rick Perry then denied Suarez a 30-day reprieve.
Suarez was convicted of gunning down Dallas police Officer Lawrence Cadena, 43, during an undercover drug sting. He was 19 at the time.
Prosecutor Lori Ordiway said Suarez filed many appeals, but only in the past week did his lawyers raise the issue of violating international law.
"He had 13 years," she said. "It's a way for him to try to delay his rightful sentence."