🧵 Brian Wharton was a Texas detective when he worked a case that put Robert Roberson on death row for killing his child. Two decades later, Wharton — now a minister — believes he got it all wrong.
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The case made national news when celebrities like Dr. Phil testified before Texas legislators this past fall, asking for the conviction to be overturned.
Among the voices advocating to save Roberson was Brian Wharton, now a minister. But 20 years prior, Wharton had sworn on a Bible and told a jury Roberson was guilty of murder.
If executed, Roberson would be the first person in the U.S. to be executed for murder based on the “shaken baby syndrome” hypothesis, which has since been debunked by medical experts.
For more background on the case, explore this timeline:
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The Texas Supreme Court halted his execution in October, but officials could still reschedule.
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/robert-roberson-execution-19845062.php
Read the story of how he came to change his convictions here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/robert-roberson-texas-detective-wharton-20006977.php
For more background on the case, explore this timeline: