Six days before Texas is scheduled to execute Hank Skinner, a Gray County judge has denied the convicted killer’s third attempt to test crime scene DNA evidence he contends will exonerate him.
Judge Steven R. Emmert, of the 31st District Court in Gray County, did not explain his decision Thursday to deny Skinner’s DNA motion in his four-sentence judgment, according to records.
“Upon consideration of said motion, it is the opinion of the Court that such motion should be denied,” Emmert wrote.
Rob C. Owen, Skinner’s attorney, said he will appeal Emmert’s decision to the state’s highest criminal court, which can stay Skinner’s November 9 execution date and reverse Emmert’s decision.
“It will now be up to the Court of Criminal Appeals to give Mr. Skinner’s case the deliberate consideration that is necessary to ensure a correct result,” Owen said. “We are confident that upon such careful review, the court will conclude that DNA testing is necessary in this case to ensure the reliability of the verdict.”
Source: Amarillo Globe News, November 3, 2011
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