Gretchen Swinn

Mitchell wasn't backing down.

But when she was asked about what happened at Robert's trial, she didn't seem to have a full command of the facts.

After more than six hours of testimony, Roberts' lawyer, Gretchen Swinn, was the day's final witness.

Time is running out for a Texas man we have been reporting on in this broadcast who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow night in a case that has sparked wide outrage.

Less than an hour after Gretchen's testimony, as the committee was about to adjourn, a stunning turn of events.

In an unprecedented and deliberate maneuver, the lawmakers subpoenaed Robert to appear at the state capitol to testify.

The date set for after his execution, meaning to honor the subpoena, Robert would have to stay alive.

It triggered a historic legal showdown with Robert's life on the line.

The next morning, on October 17th, 2024, Robert woke up in his cell at the Polunsky Unit.

His property packed, his life now measured in minutes.

The death warrant gave Texas a six-hour window to execute Robert, no earlier than 6 p.m., no later than midnight.

The lawmakers who subpoenaed him the night before raced to court, asking for a stay.

If he was dead, he couldn't come to the Capitol.

Robert was driven 50 miles to the death chamber in Huntsville.

Outside, protesters began to gather.

Inside, the machinery of death lurch forward.

Robert was issued a clean uniform.

He started to say his final goodbyes.

Texas allows a condemned person to invite five people to witness their death.

One of the people on Robert's list was Brian Wharton.