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<!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Indian cities]] for details -->{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction |
'''Frances Elaine Newton''' ([[April 12]], [[1965]] – [[September 14]], [[2005]]) was an [[African American]] woman [[executed]] by [[lethal injection]] in the state of [[Texas]] for the [[April 7]], [[1987]] murder of her husband, Adrian, 23, her son, Alton, 7, and daughter, Farrah, 21 months. She became the first African American woman executed in Texas since a [[Slavery|slave]] named Lucy was hanged [[March 5]], [[1858]] in [[Galveston County, Texas|Galveston County]] for murder.
native_name = shahabad markanda|
type = city |
latd = | longd = |
state_name = Haryana |
district = [[Kurukshetra District|Kurukshetra]] |
leader_title = |
leader_name = |
altitude = 30°9'49"N 76°52'15"E |
population_as_of = 2001 |
population_total = 37,130|
population_density = |
area_magnitude= sq. km |
area_total = |
area_telephone = 01744 |
postal_code = 136135|
vehicle_code_range = |
sex_ratio = |
unlocode = |
website = |
footnotes = |
}}
'''Shahbad''' is a city and a [[Local Governance in India| Municipal Committee]] in [[Kurukshetra District]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Haryana]].
==Demographics==
All three victims were shot with a .25 [[caliber]] [[pistol]] that belonged to Newton's boyfriend. Newton admits taking it to the apartment on the night of the killings but says that it was for her own protection. The prosecution suggested that the motive for the killings was to collect the US$100,000 [[life insurance]] policy. Newton said that a [[Illegal drug trade|drug dealer]] killed the three. It was apparently known to the police that her husband, Adrian Newton, was a drug dealer and was in debt to his supplier. This possibility was never investigated. She always maintained her innocence, right to the end.
[[As of 2001]] India [[census]]{{GR|India}}, Shahbad had a population of 37,130. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Shahbad has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 69%. In Shahbad, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
==Location==
Shahbad lies 21 kilometers south of [[Ambala]] on the Ambala [[Delhi]] Highway. It is some 30 kilometers to the North of [[Kurukshetra]] city, which is the capital of the district. Shahbad is on the national highway, and has a railway station on the Delhi Ambala line.
It lies on the banks of the river [[Markanda]]- A tributary of the [[Ghaggar]], and supposed to be a part of the ancient/ Vedic [[Saraswati River]] Basin system. There is a large historic temple on the banks of the river with Markendeshwar, the river sage/deity being worshipped there.
There is also a road from [[Panchkula]], via Ramgarh and Dosarka that comes out near Shahbad.
There are also direct roads to [[Ladwa]] and [[Radaur]] as well as [[Yamunanagar]] from Shahbad.All these being east of Shahbad. [[Pipli]], near [[Kurukshetra]] and [[Nilokheri]] are other nearby towns on the National highway.
==Economy==
Two hours before her scheduled execution on [[December 1]] [[2004]] [[List of Governors of Texas|Texas Governor]] [[Rick Perry]] granted a 120-day reprieve to allow more time for investigations into whether she received a fair trial. It is argued that her court-appointed attorney [[Ron Mock]], was incompetent (he has had five professional misconduct charges brought against him and is barred from practising until late 2007), and that the original investigation was questionable. There are conflicting reports as to whether a second gun was recovered from the scene; [[ballistics]] reports tie her gun to the murders. A relative of Newton who was incarcerated claims his cellmate boasted of killing the family. Numerous individuals, including three members of the convicting [[jury]], have expressed concern over evidence that was not presented during the trial.
It is a significant agricultural market for procurement of agricultural products. The area being on a river bank is fertile and is used for paddy as well as wheat and vegetables. The yield is very high, and the belt till [[Karnal]] has a large number of rice mills to pick up the high quality grain.
==Sports==
On [[August 24]], [[2005]], the [[Texas Court of Criminal Appeals]] turned down a motion for a stay of execution. It turned down another appeal on [[September 9]] for [[writ of habeas corpus]]. It was her fourth application.
Of late Shahbad has produced a large number of women hockey players. This is thanks to the efforts of Coach Baldev Singh, who is also a Asst Director in the Haryana Sports department. The current national Hockey team has 12 women from Shahbad. For the last decade Shahbad has produced a large number of women Hockey players who have donned Haryana , [[Railways]] or Indian team colours. It has got the epithet of [[Sansarpur]] of Women's hockey. Current national team representatives from Shahbad are :- Suman Bala, Nutan, Meenakshi, Simarjeet Kaur, Balwinder Kaur, Kiran Bala, Gurpreet Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur, Rajni Bala, Rajwinder, Gagandeep Kaur and Surinder Kaur.
==History==
The [[Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles]] voted 7-0 on [[September 12]] to not recommend her sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. The same day the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit]] refused an appeal of her sentence. Her new attorney, [[David Dow]] also asked Governor Perry for a 30-day stay to prove that Newton was wrongly linked to the murder weapon. The [[Supreme Court of the United States]] declined without dissent two appeals on [[September 13]].
Historically it was a muslim majority town, with references made to a fort during Mughal times, and raids as well as sacking of the fort by [[Banda Bahadur]]. Significantly it also has a historic gurudwara of those times. After partition most of the muslims left, and Punjabi Sikh's and Hindu's from Pakistan were resettled here. The town and surrounding villages hence have a large Punjabi presence.
At the time of partition it was a small village, but has subsequently grown and now even has to urban area sectors planned and developed by [[HUDA]].
==Links==
The execution was carried out as scheduled on [[September 14]], [[2005]], making Frances Newton the third woman executed in Texas since the resumption of capital punishment in the state in [[1982]]. The first and second were [[Karla Faye Tucker]] and [[Betty Lou Beets]], respectively.
Article on hockey in Shahbad [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040228/spr-trib.htm#1]
Newton made no final statement and did not have a [[last meal]] request. Just over 30 protesters from the [[Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement]], the [[National Black United Front]], and the [[New Black Panther Party]] had gathered outside the prison.
{{Haryana-geo-stub}}
==See also==
[[Category:Cities and towns in Haryana]]
*[[Capital punishment in the United States]]
[[Category:Kurukshetra]]
==References==
*{{citenews|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050826/ts_nm/execution_texas_dc|title=Lawyers fight execution of black woman in Texas|org=Reuters|date=[[August 26]] [[2005]]}}
*{{citenews|url=http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=1545&scid=64|title=Texas Woman Faces Execution Despite Questions Regarding Her Guilt|org=New York Times|date=[[August 25]], [[2005]]}}
*{{citenews|url=http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3324251|title=Newton maintains her innocence, keeps hope|org=Houston Chronicle|date=[[August 25]], [[2005]]}}
*{{citenews|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2005-09-09/pols_feature3.html|title=Without Evidence: Executing Frances Newton|org=Austin Chronicle|date=[[September 9]], [[2005]]}}
*{{citenews|url=http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3347473|title=Woman's execution remains on schedule|date=[[September 9]], [[2005]]|org=Houston Chronicle}}
*{{citenews|url=http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3351039|title=Newton's attorneys ask Perry for a 30-day delay|org=Houston Chronicle|date=[[September 13]], [[2005]]}}
*{{citenews|url=http://olympics.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-09-15T005316Z_01_YUE503140_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-CRIME-EXECUTION-TEXAS-DC.XML| title=Texas executes black woman for murdering family|date=[[September 14]], [[2005]]|org=Reuters}}
*[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/statistics/deathrow/drowlist/newton.jpg Offender information] from the [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]. Retrieved [[September 3]] [[2005]].
*[http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1132 Report] from [[National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty]]
[[pt:Shahbad]]
[[Category:Executed people|Newton, Frances]]
[[Category:Murderers|Newton, Frances]]
[[Category:People from Texas|Newton, Frances]]
[[Category:African Americans|Newton, Frances]]
[[Category:1965 births|Newton, Frances]]
[[Category:2005 deaths|Newton, Frances]]
[[nl:Frances Newton]]
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