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Here's how to watch Monday's hearing at the Texas Capitol for death row inmate Robert Roberson

Here's how to watch Monday's hearing at the Texas Capitol for death row inmate Robert Roberson

AUSTIN – Death row inmate Robert Roberson was subpoenaed Monday to testify before a Texas House committee about the state's “junk science” law, shaken baby syndrome and his case.

The noon hearing will be livestreamed on the House website.

The Criminal Justice Committee will hear from Roberson and other invited witnesses. No public statements will be made.

Committee members said they want Roberson, whose execution was blocked late Thursday by the Texas Supreme Court, to discuss the way the state's junk science law has affected his case. The law was intended to allow inmates to challenge convictions based on scientific evidence that was later discredited or found to be false.

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Defense attorneys say Roberson's conviction in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, was based on a doctor's testimony that her injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome, which they say is a now-discredited theory.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's highest criminal court, has rejected Roberson's attempts to use the junk science law to overturn his conviction.

The committee includes five Republicans and four Democrats. Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, will chair the meeting, with Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, serving as vice chair.

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