Texas man scheduled to be executed for 'shaken baby syndrome'

A Texas man is scheduled to be put to death in 10 days in what would be the nation’s first execution for “shaken baby syndrome.” That’s a now-disproven theory that claims violently shaking a baby can result in fatal brain damage without any other signs of physical trauma.

This has led to the misdiagnoses of murder, and that’s what defenders of inmate Robert Roberson say happened. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has now asked the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend clemency.

Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies joins host Eric Westervelt to discuss the case.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.