The key moments as a Texas man faces execution in a shaken baby syndrome case from

Texas Man William James Haney Faces Execution in Shaken Baby Syndrome Case

Key Moments as the Execution Nears

William James Haney is scheduled to be executed on July 13, 2023, for the 2001 death of his then-girlfriend's 18-month-old daughter, Baylee Alsup. Haney was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to death for capital murder. He has maintained his innocence throughout the process.

The case has drawn national attention and sparked debate about the reliability of shaken baby syndrome diagnoses. Medical experts have testified that Baylee's injuries were not consistent with Haney's account of events, and that she may have had an underlying medical condition that caused her death.

Haney's Execution Date Set

In April 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals set Haney's execution date for July 13, 2023. The court denied Haney's request for a stay of execution, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene.

Haney's attorneys have filed a clemency petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, asking that his death sentence be commuted to life in prison. The board is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks.

Shaken Baby Syndrome Controversy

The case has raised concerns about the reliability of shaken baby syndrome diagnoses. Shaken baby syndrome is a theory that a baby's death is caused by violent shaking. However, some medical experts have argued that the syndrome is not a valid diagnosis, and that it can lead to wrongful convictions.

In Haney's case, medical experts have testified that Baylee's injuries were not consistent with shaken baby syndrome. They have also said that she may have had an underlying medical condition that caused her death.

Haney's Innocence Claims

Haney has maintained his innocence throughout the process. He has said that he was not alone with Baylee on the day she died, and that he did not shake her or cause her any harm.