Nicaragua: Activists call for clemency for Nicaraguan on death row in Texas

Activists gathered to protest the impending death sentence for Bernardo Aban Tercero, a Nicaraguan citizen who has been on death row in Texas for 15 years, in Managua on Monday. The gathering was organised by the Ecclesial Church, who held signs reading; “yes to life, no to the death penalty” and “Texas: spare the life of Bernardo Tercero.” The call for clemency was echoed by Nicaraguan President, Daniel Ortega, who personally asked US President Barack Obama, to acquit Tercero. America human rights groups, such as Human Rights First, have complained that Tercero did not receive a proper trial, stating that the convicted received deficient capital counsel during his trial, and at every stage of the pre-trial proceedings. Furthermore the group states that Tercero was never evaluated for intellectual disability, which could make him ineligible for the death penalty. Tercero was convicted of murdering a man in 1997, during a robbery at a launderette in Houston. In 2000 he was moved to death row in Texas’ Polunsky prison. His execution is scheduled for August 26.