Frances Newton: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:35, 21 October 2005

Revision as of 05:35, 21 October 2005

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All three victims were shot with a .25 [[caliber]] [[pistol]] that belonged to Newton's boyfriend. Newton admits taking it to the apartment on the night of the killings but says that it was for her own protection. The prosecution suggested that the motive for the killings was to collect the US$100,000 [[life insurance]] policy. Newton said that a [[Illegal drug trade|drug dealer]] killed the three. It was apparently known to the police that her husband, Adrian Newton, was a drug dealer and was in debt to his supplier. This possibility was never investigated. She always maintained her innocence, right to the end.

Two hours before her scheduled execution on [[December 1]] [[2004]] [[List of Governors of Texas|Texas Governor]] [[Rick Perry]] granted a 120-day reprieve to allow more time for investigations into whether she received a fair trial. It is argued that her court-appointed attorney [[Ron Mock]], was incompetent (he has had five professional misconduct charges brought against him and is barred from practising until late 2007), and that the original investigation was questionable. There are conflicting reports as to whether a second gun was recovered from the scene; however, [[ballistics]] reports tie her gun to the murders. A relative of Newton who was incarcerated claims his cellmate boasted of killing the family. Numerous individuals, including three members of the convicting [[jury]], have expressed concern over evidence that was not presented during the trial.

On [[August 24]], [[2005]], the [[Texas Court of Criminal Appeals]] turned down a motion for a stay of execution. It turned down another appeal on [[September 9]] for [[writ of habeas corpus]]. It was her fourth application.