Dallas, January 24 (RHC)-- International protest is building to the execution of a Mexican national by the U.S. state of Texas, despite objections from the U.S. State Department, the Mexican government, and the World Court.

Edgar Arias Tamayo was convicted of killing a Houston police officer after a robbery in 1994. But the World Court later ruled he was entitled to have his case reviewed because he was never informed of his right to diplomatic assistance from the Mexican consulate.

In killing Tamayo, Texas ignored pleas from the U.S. State Department that it would violate international law.

Tamayo is the third Mexican national to be executed in Texas whose case was part of the World Court order. In addition to challenging his execution on consular grounds, defense attorneys had also argued he was ineligible for the death penalty because of mental disability.