Kim Kardashian, Rodney Reed.Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Rodney Reed, who has been on death row in Texas for more than two decades, will not be executed as previously scheduled — andKim KardashianWest there with him when he found out the news.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled on Friday to block Reed’s execution, which had been scheduled for November 20,according to theNew York Times. His execution is now suspended indefinitely.
Hours before the ruling, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that Governor Greg Abbott grant Reed a 120-day reprieve, according to theNYT.
Kardashian West was just one of themany celebrity voicesto stand up for Reed after his attorneys with theInnocence Projectsaid they have new eyewitness evidence to be presented that would help prove his innocence. Experts that were called in in 1998 when he was convicted of the 1996 murder of Stacy Stites have also recanted their testimony.
“Today, I had the honor of meeting #RodneyReed in person and the privilege of sitting with him when he got the news that the highest court in Texas had issued a stay of execution and remanded the case back to the trial court for further consideration,” theKeeping Up with the Kardashiansstarwrote on TwitterFriday.
“Words cannot describe the relief and hope that swept over the room in that moment,” she continued. “That hope had been building over the last few weeks around Rodney’s case. We have seen Democrats and Republicans come together. We have seen grassroots activists and lawmakers link arms.”
Rodney Reed.Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Finally, Kardashian Westexpressed her gratitudeto those who “voiced their support” for Reed.
In addition to Kardashian West, other celebrities including Beyoncé,Rihanna,LL Cool J,Isaiah Washington, former NFL playerReggie Bush, and rapperMeek Millall spoke out in support for a campaign calling for a stay in Reed’s execution, and more than 500,000 people have signed aChange.org petitionurging Abbott to reconsider his case.
Millions more signeda petition at FreeRodneyReed.comcalling for a review of the new evidence.
Rodney Reed.AP/Shutterstock
Reed’s lawyer, Bryce Benjet, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment, but said in astatement toTIME, “We are extremely relieved and thankful that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has issued a stay of execution for our client Rodney Reed.”
“This opportunity will allow for proper consideration of the powerful and mounting new evidence of Mr. Reed’s innocence,” his statement added.
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Reed has long maintained his innocence, and said that he and Stites were having an affair, which would explain his DNA being found on her body, theNew York Timesreported.
“I don’t think you can ignore the role that racism plays in our criminal justice system,” Benjet said in his statement toTIME. “In a rural part of Texas the accusation of a black man raping a white woman is essentially a charge.”
source: people.com
