Mother appeals for son’s life

THE mother of a Briton on death row in the US made an emotional plea to Tony Blair yesterday to save her son’s life.

Dorothy Elliott, 67, wants the British Prime Minister to intervene to save her son John “Jackie” Elliott, who is due to be executed in Texas at 6pm on February 4.

He was convicted of the brutal gang rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman.

His co-defendants told the court Elliott had murdered Joyce Munguia, a mother of one. They were all given jail sentences and only Elliott was given the death sentence.

Elliott is adamant he was not the killer.

Mrs Elliott said: “Something must be done to help my son. I love him very much and I don’t want this to happen.

“I think any mum would be willing to help him.”

Mrs Elliott said if she was to meet the Prime Minister, she would plead with him for help.

“I would ask if he would do anything for my son. The time is very near now. I’m thankful for all the help I’m getting,” she said.

Elliott has always protested his innocence and his legal team say new DNA evidence could help clear him of the murder. Her other son Robert, at a press conference at the House of Commons, said: “For 16 years now we have been a little frustrated.

“We have been asking for help for a long, long time and it’s only after the British Government got involved that we felt any encouragement. We thank you all.”

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has recently sent a letter to Texan governor Rick Perry voicing his concerns over the conviction of Elliott, who was born in Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Dorothy and Robert Elliott have flown to the UK from their home in Austin, Texas, for the conference after which they delivered a personal letter addressed to the Prime Minister asking him to intervene directly.

John Gummer, the Elliotts’ former MP in Suffolk, suggested the Prime Minister could speak to President Bush about the case.

“The President is a Texan and he has very close connections with the Texan authorities. The MP added: “It’s a matter of trust, but the President is seeking our trust in other matters at the moment. I won’t say anything further on that.”

Mr Gummer cited doubts about the evidence and the impartiality of witnesses and the competence of Elliott’s legal team as reasons why his execution should be stopped.