Convicted of raping and killing 16 year old San Antonio girl

Houston — The Associated Press is reporting; The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has refused to stop the scheduled execution this week of a Mexican national for raping and killing a 16-year-old San Antonio girl.

The panel voted 4-1 Tuesday to deny a reprieve request for 38-year-old Humberto Leal. The same board refused by a 5-0 vote to commute Leal's death sentence to life in prison.

Leal still has appeals asking the U.S. Supreme Court to halt his Thursday lethal injection for the 1994 rape and killing slaying of Adria Sauceda.

Leal's lawyers say he should have had the opportunity to get legal help from the Mexican government after he was arrested for the girl's murder. Leal came to the United States when he was about 18 months old.