Just five hours before he was slated to be executed, a Texas inmate’s death sentence was stayed after his victim’s sister pleaded for him.
William Keith Speer, 49, spent more than half his life on death row after he strangled fellow inmate Gary Dickerson to death in 1997 while he was 16.
“I have spent much time reflecting on what justice my brother and my family deserved,” Dickerson’s sister Sammie Martin wrote in a letter she addressed to federal authorities this week.
“In my heart, I feel that he is not only remorseful for his actions but has been doing good works for others and has something left to offer the world.”
Executive Director of Texas Defender Service Burke Butler revealed that “thousands” of people joined Martin to pledge on Speer’s behalf and “tell Texas that Will’s life was worth saving.”
“Will Speer will live to see another day and continue to spread his message of hope and healing in Texas prisons,” he added.
