11/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU regrets execution of a man with mental disorder in Texas. On 10 April High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton learned with “deep regret” of the execution of Ramiro Hernandez Llanas in Texas the previous day. Hernandez Llanas was of limited mental competence. Ashton reiterated that the EU had called for the commutation of his sentence out of concern for his mental competence at the time of his offence. While recognising the serious nature of the crimes involved, Ashton again recalled the EU's opposition to capital punishment “in all cases and under any circumstances”. “In particular, the execution of people with mental disorders, including limited mental competence, is contrary to widely accepted human rights norms and is in contradiction to the minimum standards of human rights set forth in several international human rights instruments”, Ashton added. Hernandez Llanas, of Mexican nationality, was sentenced to death for the murder of his former teacher, who had taken him on to help renovate his house. (CG)