Texas prisoner Robert Roberson's execution blocked by state's highest criminal court

The nation's first execution of a person convicted in a "shaken baby syndrome" case was halted Thursday when Texas' highest criminal court ruled in the condemned man's favor

The nation's first execution of a person convicted in a "shaken baby syndrome" case was halted Thursday when Texas' highest criminal court ruled in the condemned man's favor.

Robert Roberson, 58, had faced an Oct. 16 execution date for capital murder in the 2002 death of his young daughter, Nikki. But the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said in an order that it would grant an emergency motion for a stay of execution "pending the resolution" of his claim, referring it back to the trial court.

For more on this case, listen to episodes of the “Dateline” podcast “The Last Appeal.”

The case has drawn support from a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers who used their legislative power a year ago to help block Roberson's execution in a last-minute maneuver.

Since then, state Attorney General Ken Paxton has vowed to press ahead with a new execution date.