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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plinth spot for death row Briton | Plinth spot for death row Briton |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The image of a British grandmother on death row in America has taken its place on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth in a plea to stop her execution. | The image of a British grandmother on death row in America has taken its place on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth in a plea to stop her execution. |
| Linda Carty, 50, was sentenced to death in 2002 for her part in abducting and killing a 25-year-old woman, but claims she was framed. | |
| A recorded plea from Ms Carty was played aloud from the plinth. | A recorded plea from Ms Carty was played aloud from the plinth. |
| The British Consulate-General in Houston said it had made a number of representations on Ms Carty's behalf. | The British Consulate-General in Houston said it had made a number of representations on Ms Carty's behalf. |
| Her supporters erected a cardboard cut-out of her on the plinth, which is being used for temporary live statues in the London square. | Her supporters erected a cardboard cut-out of her on the plinth, which is being used for temporary live statues in the London square. |
| They played the recording she made in the Texas jail where, if appeals fail, she will be put to death by lethal injection. | They played the recording she made in the Texas jail where, if appeals fail, she will be put to death by lethal injection. |
| At the same time, campaigner Brian Capaloff, 46, from Falkirk, Stirlingshire, held up pieces of cardboard featuring extracts from her plea. | At the same time, campaigner Brian Capaloff, 46, from Falkirk, Stirlingshire, held up pieces of cardboard featuring extracts from her plea. |
| 'Desperate woman' | 'Desperate woman' |
| In the message, she stated: "Time is now running out and I appeal to every one of you and to the British government to please help me." | In the message, she stated: "Time is now running out and I appeal to every one of you and to the British government to please help me." |
| She added: "I'm sorry if I sound like a desperate woman. I am desperate, because the British people may be my last hope. If they ask for my life to be spared, maybe Texas will listen." | She added: "I'm sorry if I sound like a desperate woman. I am desperate, because the British people may be my last hope. If they ask for my life to be spared, maybe Texas will listen." |
| Legal charity Reprieve described Ms Carty as the most at-risk British national they are following. It is thought her execution could take place as early as next summer. | Legal charity Reprieve described Ms Carty as the most at-risk British national they are following. It is thought her execution could take place as early as next summer. |
| Speaking from her Texas prison, Ms Carty said she was hopeful that her appeal, which is currently lodged with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, would be successful. | Speaking from her Texas prison, Ms Carty said she was hopeful that her appeal, which is currently lodged with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, would be successful. |
| The British government must do everything in its power to prevent Linda's death Clive Stafford-Smith Reprieve Extracts from Ms Carty's speech | The British government must do everything in its power to prevent Linda's death Clive Stafford-Smith Reprieve Extracts from Ms Carty's speech |
| Asked if she thought Prime Minister Gordon Brown could assert more pressure, she said: "He has to. You cannot sit passively by and because you have a good relationship with the US say 'I don't want to rock the boat'. | Asked if she thought Prime Minister Gordon Brown could assert more pressure, she said: "He has to. You cannot sit passively by and because you have a good relationship with the US say 'I don't want to rock the boat'. |
| "You are talking about somebody's life here. He has to get up and say 'I am not going to allow you to kill this lady'." | "You are talking about somebody's life here. He has to get up and say 'I am not going to allow you to kill this lady'." |
| Clive Stafford-Smith, director of legal charity Reprieve, said: "Linda Carty's speech to Trafalgar Square shows that she is a terrified woman, and with good reason. Texas plans to kill her by lethal injection, which is a painful and lonely death. | Clive Stafford-Smith, director of legal charity Reprieve, said: "Linda Carty's speech to Trafalgar Square shows that she is a terrified woman, and with good reason. Texas plans to kill her by lethal injection, which is a painful and lonely death. |
| "The British government must do everything in its power to prevent Linda's death." | "The British government must do everything in its power to prevent Linda's death." |
| Ms Carty was convicted in connection to the kidnap and murder of Joana Rodriguez, who was seized with her four-day-old son by three men on 16 May 2001. | Ms Carty was convicted in connection to the kidnap and murder of Joana Rodriguez, who was seized with her four-day-old son by three men on 16 May 2001. |
| But she says she was framed by three men in revenge for her work as an informant with a Drug Enforcement Agency. | But she says she was framed by three men in revenge for her work as an informant with a Drug Enforcement Agency. |
| Campaigners claim there were a number of defence failings during the trial. | Campaigners claim there were a number of defence failings during the trial. |
| The Foreign Office said that it had made its usual representations against the death penalty. It has also registered a complaint with the US Appeals Court about not being informed when the woman was first arrested. | The Foreign Office said that it had made its usual representations against the death penalty. It has also registered a complaint with the US Appeals Court about not being informed when the woman was first arrested. |
| A spokesman for the British Consulate-General in Houston said: "We have made a number of representations to the US government and other US authorities involved in this case, concerning our view on the death penalty. | A spokesman for the British Consulate-General in Houston said: "We have made a number of representations to the US government and other US authorities involved in this case, concerning our view on the death penalty. |
| "We remain in close contact with Ms Carty and her legal representation in the US and UK and continue to provide Ms Carty with consular assistance." | "We remain in close contact with Ms Carty and her legal representation in the US and UK and continue to provide Ms Carty with consular assistance." |
| Ms Carty has British dependent territory citizenship because she was born on the island of St Kitts, in the Caribbean, to Anguillan parents. | Ms Carty has British dependent territory citizenship because she was born on the island of St Kitts, in the Caribbean, to Anguillan parents. |