'Texas 7' fugitive killer Donald Newbury put to death
Donald Newbury was put to death for his role in the murder of an Irving, Texas, police officer on Christmas Eve in 2000.(Photo: State of Texas)HUNTSVILLE, Texas — One of the infamous "Texas 7" fugitiveswas executed by lethal injection Wednesday for his role in killing a Dallas-area police officer during the group's weeks on the run.Donald Newbury was put to death for his role in the murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins on Christmas Eve in 2000.The 52-year-old convict was declared dead at 6:25 p.m."Newbury's execution is just one more step towards justice for Aubrey," said Hawkins' widow, Lori. "I choose not to be there because it won't turn back time. Donald Newbury was a party to Aubrey's murder. He deserves this death sentence. I believe final justice will be served when I hear that the remaining so-called "Texas Seven" take their last breath."Newbury mumbled a line of poetry as his last words: "That each new indignity defeats only the body. Pampering the spirit with obscure merit. I love you all, that's it."He was serving 99 years in prison for robbery when he escaped from the Connally Unit in December 2000 with six other inmates. After committing more crimes in Houston they traveled to North Texas where they were caught robbing the Oshman's sporting goods store off Highway 183 in Irving.Dispatchers called Officer Aubrey Hawkins away from dinner with his young son to respond to the call."He was killed in such a savage way," recalled Toby Shook, former Dallas County prosecutor. "After they killed him the drug his body from the car. They drove over his body with the car and they took his gun as a souvenir. Newbury never expressed any remorse really."Even on death row, Newbury got in trouble 55 times for assaulting guards among other things, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.Extra guards were on duty Wednesday night in case Newbury put up one final fight with correctional officers. But they were not needed because Newbury's final moments were calm. The IV that delivered the lethal injection was just below a tattoo on his right arm.As the drugs began to take effect, members of the Freedom Riders, who were with police, revved their motorcycle engines. The show of support was easily heard on the other side of the brick wall inside the death chamber.Irving Police officers stood silently, side-by-side, as the execution happened."What you see tonight here from the Irving Police Department is our commitment to see this through to the end," said Chief Larry Boyd.Newly elected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the state's top law enforcement officer, also witnessed the execution though it was immediately unclear why.In the minutes leading up to his death, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a last-minute appeal by Newbury's lawyers, who argued that his trial lawyers had failed to show that he suffered psychological damage from childhood abuse.Newbury's life had been spared once before — when a stay was issued one week before he was supposed to die in 2012.Newbury had a lengthy criminal record. He was serving 99 years for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon out of Travis County at the time of his escape.Prior to the 2000 escape, Newbury had been in and out of jail, but always returned. He was paroled in 1985 from a 10-year sentence and then again in 1992 from a 15-year sentence.Both were for aggravated robbery convictions.Three more of the "Texas 7" remain on Death Row. Another killed himself to avoid capture. Two have already been executed.Contributing: WFAA reporter Carla Wade and The Associated Press Hack attack: 80 million at risk in Anthem breachFeb 05, 2015
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