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Two Tarrant capital cases tainted by prosecutor misconduct

A former Tarrant County prosecutor who retired amidst misconduct allegations last year committed so-called "Brady" violations (i.e., withholding exculpatory evidence from the defense) in two different capital murder cases, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. First:In December, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the conviction of Death Row inmate Michael Toney after the Tarrant County district attorney?s office agreed that [prosecutor Mike] Parrish failed to turn over to the defense at least 14 documents containing exculpatory or impeaching evidence.Toney was sentenced to death in 1999 for the 1985 bombing of a Lake Worth trailer that killed three people. The withheld evidence cast doubt on the testimony of Toney?s ex-wife and former best friend, who were key witnesses against him...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on September 10, 2009 (boomark / email).