Killer loses latest appeal
Son of victim, activists lobby to save man from execution
As dozens of activists, friends and family of death row inmate Christopher Young concluded a rally Tuesday to draw attention to his plight, they learned a court had denied one of his final avenues of appeal.
Lawyers for Young, who is sentenced to death in the 2004 murder of beloved San Antonio convenience store owner Hasmukh “Hash” Patel, had filed the motion earlier this month, arguing that a potential juror in the 2006 trial was struck from service based solely on her affiliation with a local Baptist church.
The Court of Criminal Appeals, though, refused to review the motion Tuesday based on a legal technicality. They said Young’s lawyers have already had the opportunity to raise the issue of religious discrimination in previous claims.
Jeff Newberry, one of Young’s lawyers, said there are now few legal options remaining to halt the execution, scheduled for next Tuesday. On Friday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole is expected to announce if it intends to support Young’s bid for clemency, which would reduce his sentence to life in prison. If it does, then it would go to Gov. Greg Abbott for a final decision.
Among those who back Young’s bid for clemency is Mitesh Patel, who was 22 when his father was killed. Patel said he was motivated to support Young’s request for clemency after learning Young has three underage daughters who would be without a father if Young is executed.
“I think that’s important,” Patel said. “I haven’t had one for 14 years.”
Young’s own father, Willard, was murdered when Young was 8 years old, putting Young on a downward spiral. Young joined The Bloods gang just months after his father was killed, according to court filings.
In the 14 years since
Young killed Patel, Young has grown into a mature and caring man who feels great remorse for the murder, Young’s friends and family say. Young has said he would like to start a mentorship program to help youths who have been scarred by violence and may be inclined to join a gang.
Patel believes Young is a changed man. He said Young can do more good alive than dead by teaching children the dangers of violence and gang life.
“Nothing positive comes from his execution,” Patel said. “Even if he wasn’t remorseful, nothing positive comes from his execution. But the fact that he is remorseful and he wants to break the chain, it really is a disservice to everyone to deny someone the ability to be positive.” Patel’s father immigrated to the United States when he was a young man in order to help his parents, who owned a struggling farm in India. Hash Patel’s wife, Mina, and young daughter, Rinal, stayed in India for awhile.
Hash Patel was a mechanical engineer — he had designed fire system sprinklers in India — but his degree didn’t help him in the U.S., so he worked a number of odd jobs before he bought the Mini Food Mart on East Southcross Boulevard.
Patel had owned the store for 16 years when, on the morning of Nov. 21, 2004, Young walked in and shot him. Earlier that morning, prosecutors said Young raped and kidnapped a woman before entering the store asking for money.
During the trial, a woman who was a member of a local Baptist church was struck from the jury pool. Some members of her church had worked in prison ministry, which prosecutors argued might sway the woman to favor the defendant.
Young’s lawyers have argued that prosecutors acted improperly by dismissing the potential juror solely on her religious affiliation without inquiring about her individual views — a claim the courts have denied.
Earlier this year, Young’s case captured the attention of more than 500 religious and spiritual leaders — including 109 from Texas and 11 from San Antonio. They released a statement calling on the state of Texas to give Young a new trial.