Reprieve Lifted For Condemned Man

HOUSTON (AP) — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has lifted its reprieve that blocked the scheduled execution this past summer of a 54-year-old East Texas man condemned for strangling his mother nearly 12 years ago.

Tracy Beatty was within two days of lethal injection set for Aug. 13 when the court halted the punishment as his attorneys argued he had deficient legal help at his 2004 trial and during earlier appeals.

The court Wednesday dismissed their appeal, saying in a brief order that it did not comply with the law.

Beatty was convicted of the 2003 death of 62-year-old Carolyn Click. Her body was found buried near her trailer home outside Tyler in Smith County. When charged, the recently paroled Beatty already was in jail on auto theft and weapons charges.