March 31, 2014 3:30pm

US Supreme Court refuses appeal of Mexican murderer

The United States Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from a convicted Mexican citizen facing execution in Texas next week.

Ramiro Hernandez is one of several Mexican prisoners in the US seeking to challenge their sentences on the grounds they were not properly advised of their right to consular assistance after their arrest.

The Vienna Convention, ratified by 175 countries including the United States, dictates that foreign nationals must be able to receive consular assistance when arrested.

Hernandez's case was one of 51 recommended for review by the International Court in The Hague in 2004 on the grounds of non-compliance of the Vienna Convention.

While several of the 44-year-old's compatriots have been freed or seen their sentences commuted, three have been executed while around 40 remain on death row.

One of those executed -- Edgar Tamayo Arias -- was put to death in January despite appeals from US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Mexican government.

The Supreme Court did not give its reasons for turning down Hernandez's appeal, meaning he faces execution on April 9 at 6:00 pm (2300 GMT) in Huntsville, Texas.

Hernandez was sentenced to die in 2000 for murdering a 49-year-old man who employed him on his ranch in San Antonio. He also repeatedly raped his victim's wife following the murder.

While behind bars for the murder, Hernandez attacked and killed a female prison guard.

Hernandez's lawyers may yet lodge further appeals on the grounds of his mental state or over the substance to be used by Texas to carry out his lethal injection, which the state has declined to disclose.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/n...xican-murderer