Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Update: Stay of execution granted in Hood case

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the scheduled execution of Charles Dean Hood. The Court's decision was not based on the deposition testimony confirming the sexual relationship between retired Judge Verla Sue Holland and former Collin County DA Tom O'Connell, but, instead, on the question of whether or not the jury was given a proper instruction regarding mitigation during the sentencing phase.

Grits for Breakfast has a transcript of an e-mail sent from Mr. Hood's lawyers detailing the admissions of Ms. Holland and Mr. O'Connell. Those admissions were the first confirmation from the two former lovebirds that anything out of sorts had been going on during Mr. Hood's trial. Both admitted to the affair and to their failure to inform Mr. Hood, or his attorneys, about the affair.

No comments: