The man who was sheriff when James Byrd Jr, 49, of Jasper, was dragged to death, says he will not attend the execution of one of the men convicted in Byrd's death.
Former Sheriff Billy Rowles says after 13 years of Lawrence Brewer sitting on death row it's time for justice to be served.
Brewer, Shawn Berry and John King were convicted in Byrd's death.
Rowles says the execution is opening old wounds.
"I have some positive thoughts and I have some negative thoughts," said Rowles.
"We'll be glad to get this over with. Obvious the publicity has brought some negativity to our little community up here. Everybody's reliving it, the media's reliving it. And therefore it's making people to think about it again," said Rowles.
Brewer is set for execution by lethal injection Wednesday.
No remorse in killing:
Rowles says he talked to Brewer in prison. Brewer says he does not have any remorse for what he did. The Sheriff says this makes it easy to know that justice is served.
Byrd was beaten and dragged behind a pickup truck until he died on June 7, 1998. Rowles says there will be mixed emotions on Sunday,
The other men convicted:
John King is sentenced to death and currently held at the TDCJ Polunsky Unit.
Shawn Berry was spared the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison. He is eligible for parole June 7, 2038.
Lawrence Russell Brewer - Photo:Texas Department of Criminal Justice
