U.S. execution date set for Mexican "Railroad Killer"

Condemned serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz, the Mexican drifter dubbed the "Railroad Killer," was scheduled Friday to be executed on May 10 for raping and killing a Houston doctor.

Resendiz, 45, was condemned for the 1998 murder of Dr. Claudia Benton, 39, who was raped, stabbed and beaten in her Houston home.

Resendiz's lawyer, Jack Zimmermann, objected to the setting of the execution date while an appeal before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is pending, but prosecutor Roe Wilson argued that the appeals process could continue even with an &to=http://english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/397/12790_Berg.html' target=_blank>execution date set.

"It is time. We need to carry out the sentence and justice needs to be served," Wilson said.

Resendiz acquired the name "Railroad Killer" because he was linked to 14 slayings in Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Illinois near the rail lines he rode nationwide. He has claimed to have committed even more.

Three people who attended the hearing said they came from Mexico to represent the killer's family but would not identify themselves.

Wearing dark-rimmed glasses, Resendiz answered no when Harmon asked if he had anything to say.

At his Houston trial in May 2000, defense lawyers argued Resendiz was innocent by reason of insanity. Prosecutors said he had personality defects but declared he was sane.