San Antonian executed for  1985 shooting death

                               By Matt FloresExpress-News Staff Writer

               HUNTSVILLE — As his last acts, condemned capital  murderer Norman Evans Green winked at his spiritual adviser, declined a final statement, then took a series of     short breaths before he was executed Wednesday night.
               Green, 38, became the seventh death row inmate in Texas  — and the second from San Antonio — to receive the  state's lethal injection this year.
               He was convicted of capital murder for the Feb. 13, 1985, shooting death of Timothy Adams during a botched  holdup at a Northeast Side electronics store.
               At 6:17 p.m., six minutes after the mixture of drugs began  flowing into his arms, Green was pronounced dead.
               At least eight other executions are pending through September, but so far, the list doesn't include any of the  remaining 27 condemned inmates from Bexar County.
             Adams, 18, was an engineering student at the University of Texas at San Antonio working part time at the Dyer Electronics Warehouse when two men attempted to rob      the store during the lunch hour.
               Although he was found guilty by two separate juries —the first conviction was reversed on appeal — Green never publicly admitted killing Adams.
               However, Adams' mother, Iris, who witnessed Wednesday's execution, said Green privately told her during his first trial that he was sorry.
               "I'm glad to have it finished," Iris Adams said after the execution.
               Asked if she thought Green was sorry, she replied: "I think he's sorry he got caught."    She said the execution paled in comparison to the way her son died.   "This man just took one deep breath and he was gone," she said. "My son suffered."
              Adams, alone at the store at the time, was shot in the  chest, abdomen and arm after his assailants became frustrated when he was slow to open the register.
               The pair fled without any money.
               An accomplice, Harold Bowens, testified against Green at  both trials in exchange for a reduced murder charge and a life sentence.
               The victim's sister, Tammy, said the family still is struggling  with her brother's murder.              "It hasn't gotten much easier over the years," she said.  "But we still remember Tim the way he was before the shooting, and that's what matters."
             Moments after the lethal dosage began flowing into Green's veins, the victim's father, Ernest Adams, kneeled on one knee, clasped his hands and bowed his head in        silent prayer.
               He stood up just before the prison doctor pronounced Green dead.
               Earlier in the day, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Green's last- ditch appeal.
              He ate his final meal, which consisted of barbecued pork chops, salad, baked potato, Texas toast and a Coke.
               Green repeatedly had denied requests for interviews, but steadfastly maintained Bowens was the gunman in the botched robbery.   Bowens, now 32, remains in prison. He became eligible for parole in 1994, but was rejected by the state parole board. His next eligible parole date is in November 2000.
               A police expert testified at Green's trials that two fingerprints taken from the .38-caliber pistol used in the slaying matched Green's fingerprints.
               Although unsuccessful in raising the issue at trial, Green saw his first conviction reversed in 1989 after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decided the trial judge erred in disqualifying a prospective juror who expressed reservations about the death penalty during jury selection.
               Another trial was ordered, and in 1990, a second jury convicted Green of capital murder and sentenced him to death.
  Green escaped the execution chamber twice before when he won federal reprieves in December 1994 and March 1998. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in November lifted the last stay, clearing the way for Wednesday's execution.
               Robert McClure II, who prosecuted Green, said, "It's high time."
              "Tim Adams has waited far too long for this," McClure said, adding that Adams' last words as he was being transported to the hospital by paramedics were: "They shot me for no reason."
              Wednesday, Feb 24,1999

News report from February 24th,1999----TEXAS:   (execution)

In Huntsville, convicted killer Norman Evans Green was executed Wednesday evening for shooting to death a San Antonio electronics store clerk during a botched robbery in 1985.
Green, 38, was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m., 6 minutes after thelethal drugs began flowing into hs system.  The U.S. Supreme Courtdenied 2 final appeals earlier in the day.
According to prosecutors, Green and an accomplice waited for the Dyer Electronics manager to take a lunch break before attempting to rob 19-year-old clerk Timothy Adams.  When Adams was slow to follow instructions, Green fired 4 times, striking the victim in the arm,
chest and abdomen.    Green's fingerprints were found on the .38-caliber pistol used to shoot Adams, an engineering student at the University of Texas-San Antonio. He died 12 hours later of massive damage caused by the bullets, which prosecutors said were cut so they would shred more flesh on impact.
"He (Green) took the time to notch those bullets. He meant for whomever he came across to die," said the victim's mother, Iris Adams. In 1978, Green, then 17, was convicted and imprisoned for burglary. Hewas released on shock probation two months later. In 1980, he went back to prison for stealing a car, was paroled, and returned for a paroleviolation. He was released again in 1984.Green 1st was convicted and condemned for the Adams' slaying in 1985, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a new trial.
 A 2nd jury convicted him again in 1990. Appeals courts stayed Green's two previous death dates in 1994 and 1998.
Green blamed the shooting on accomplice Harold Bowens, a man Green claimed was a stranger he had met on the day of the killing. Bowens wassentenced to life after agreeing to testify that Green was the triggerman.
On an Internet site established on Green's behalf, supporters back his assertions of innocence despite the fingerprints and witness testimonylinking him to the killing.
Because nothing was stolen, supporters also claim the slaying shouldn't have been a capital case because another crime was not committed inconjunction with the killing. Prosecutors say it was still an armed robbery even though the two were unable to open the cash register and
fled empty-handed.
"Norman always has had a hard time grasping with the legal significance of his activities," said Ed Shaughnessy of the Bexar County DistrictAttorney's Office.
Though Green had publicly maintained his innocence, Ms. Adams says he privately confessed in the courtroom before his first trial.
"Somebody called my name, and he turned around and looked me in the face and said, `I'm sorry,'" Ms. Adams said.  "If you hit my dog and look mein the face and say, `I'm sorry,' that's one thing. He deliberately killed my son.
"The only thing he's sorry for is he was caught."
Green becomes the 7th condemned inmate to be put to death in Texas this year, and the 171st overall since the state resumed capitalpunishment on Dec. 7, 1982.
Green also becomes the 21st condemned prisoner to be put to death this year in the USA, and the 521st overall since America resumed executionson Jan. 17, 1977.

(sources:  Associated Press and Rick Halperin)

Iris Adams says she doesn't have vengeance in her heart. She simply believes it's time for Norman Evans Green to die.
"I don't take joy in anyone's death, but this person I feel must be put to death," Ms. Adams said, referring to the man condemned forkilling her son.  "If he got out by some chance, he would kill someone again."
Green, 38, is scheduled to die by lethal injection tonight for the Feb. 13, 1985 slaying of Timothy Adams, a 19-year-old University of Texas-SanAntonio engineering student killed during a botched robbery of the electronics store where he worked part-time.
Green 1st was convicted and condemned for the San Antonio crime in 1985, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a new trial.But a 2nd jury reached the same verdict and punishment in 1990. Green's 1st 2 execution dates were stayed, 1st in 1994 and then last
March, as courts considered his appeals.  His lone remaining appeal was pending before the U.S. Supreme Court this morning. "I hope that the Supreme Court will look at our petition and determinethat there are substantive issues they want to review and grant a stay, but it's very difficult at this stage in the proceedings," said JohnCarroll, Green's attorney. Green, a career criminal who served time for burglary and car theft,would be the 7th Texas death-row inmate to be executed this year and the 4th this month.
Green blames the shooting on accomplice Harold Bowens. Green said he didn't even know Bowens' name but picked him up earlier on the day of thekilling.  Bowens was sentenced to life after agreeing to testify that Green was the triggerman.
Court testimony showed that Green's fingerprints - not Bowens' - were on the murder weapon. The bullets that killed Adams had been altered tocause extra internal damage.
"The only problem for Norman is, even if he didn't pull the trigger, he still could be found guilty of capital murder and get the death penalty"as an accomplice, said Ed Shaughnessy of the Bexar County District Attorney's Office.
However, Shaughnessy emphasized the evidence showed Green was indeed the gunman.
According to prosecutors, Green and Bowens waited for the store manager to take a lunch break before pouncing. When Adams was slow to followinstructions, Green fired 4 times, striking Adams in the arm, chest and abdomen.
Adams died 12 hours later but helped police identify his killers, who escaped empty-handed when they couldn't jimmy the cash register. Green has refused to be accountable for his actions ever since, Shaughnessy said.
"What I think happens is they operate in a fantasy land down there (on death row)," he said. "They receive reinforcement from fanciful ideasfrom pen pals, Amnesty International and fellow inmates on death row. They refuse to recognize the legal significance of what they've done."Though Green has publicly maintained his innocence, Ms. Adams says he
privately confessed in the courtroom before his first trial.
"Somebody called my name, and he turned around and looked me in the faceand said, `I'm sorry,'" Ms. Adams said.  "If you hit my dog and look me in the face and say, `I'm sorry,' that's one thing. He deliberatelykilled my son.
"The only thing he's sorry for is he was caught."

                                (source:  San Antonio Express-News)

 The CCADP were friends and supporters of Norman Green and we are sad and distressed at his murder by the state of Texas.  Please  raise your voice to stop the death penalty is memory of Norman and all those who have been killed by the state before or since.   We Remember You Norman...

    Letter  From  Norman  "Jerry"  Green:

                          Greetings, Friends:

 Hello, my name is Norman Evans ("Jerry") Green. If  you are now reading this
 introduction to my story, it  may be for a purpose beyond both of us, as nothing in life actually happens "by accident".   My being on Death Row, facing death for a murder I
didn’t commit, may seem strange or even a sad  fate, but no more strange than you and I meeting over a peculiar new communication vehicle called "the Internet" to share some intimate details of my life. There is a God bigger than us both, with a plan for each one.

  No question about my future: only God can intervene by using people such as you; all the more true since in the midst of preparing to go "on-line", and after many months’ of
 waiting, hoping, and praying, I have just learned that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has just rejected my plea for an appeal,  meaning my only human chance to be heard is to get before the  U.S. Supreme Court with adequate proof to substantiate my story,  which follows for you to read.

 The reason it is vitally important to have access to the Supreme  Court is that there is evidence uncovered that has never been  presented to any court of law that can prove my innocence. A legal  trust fund is being established for the accrual of finances to aid my
 lawyer in bringing this evidence to light and arguing my case  before the Supreme Court. I am praying that God will show you  what, if anything, to do to help me.

 I am only 38 years old, my last 13 years being spent here on Death  Row. What possible good can come forth from me now? Is my life  to finish here, seemingly without ever starting? I am at peace with  and ready to meet God--or, ready to go on toward His high calling  and purpose here for me on earth.

 I will answer all letters and gratefully accept whatever help you  decide to give. Please pray, pray for God’s perfect will to be done  in Jerry Green’s life.

 May God richly bless you,

 Sincerely,

 Jerry

         TO READ MORE ABOUT THE CASE VISIT
                     "The Norman Green Story":

        http://green.dcci.com/

 URGENT! The Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty are friends and supporters of Norman Green and we would like to encourage you to assist in any way you can.

                                      The Norman Green Defense Fund
                             c/o Father Augustine Amanzeh,
                                     Director H.R.C.C.
                                    1819 Nevada Street
                              San Antonio, Texas 78203
                                           (USA)
                            Phone Number (210) 532-5358
                               Fax Number (210) 532-3699
 
 

                                  The Norman Green Defense Fund
                              c/o JoAnn Green, "Mother" Dir.
                              4611 Old Coach Lane
                              San Antonio, Texas 77820
                              (USA)
                              Phone: (210) 661-2927

    
THE CCADP would like to thank the webmasters of Norman's homepage at http://green.dcci.com/  for the content of this page.  Please visit the Norman Green Story.
    
     CLICK BELOW TO READ NORMAN'S WRITING ON LIFE ON DEATH ROW
                                       A TRUE VIEW
    

                  The CCADP offers free webpages to over 500 Death Row Prisoners
                                                Contact us for more information.
                                                   info@ccadp.org
            
                                                       "The Eyes Of The World Are Watching Now"