Ricky Lynn Lewis (Texas prison photo)
TYLER (January 4, 2012)—Ricky Lynn Lewis, 50, who’s on death row for the murder of an East Texas man during a home break-in more than 21 years ago, is now scheduled to die on April 9.
State District Judge Christi Kennedy in Tyler set the date Thursday.
Lewis was convicted of capital murder in the September 1990 shooting death of George Ray Newman, 45.
Evidence showed Lewis raped Newman's fiancée at their home in Smith County and stole her car.
She managed to call police to report the attack.
A federal appeals court in November rejected Lewis' claims he's mentally impaired and ineligible for the death penalty, clearing the way for the execution date to be set.
Lewis is among at least nine inmates already scheduled to receive lethal injections in Huntsville this year.
