Tulia Justice

[Connie Clark]

--0-830253859-1049291114=:50988
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


Ghettoites have been watching this story, so am posting this latest news, just to make sure we all know...

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/1847867
Judge urges convictions be vacated because of officer's conduct
By JIM HENDERSON
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle 

The 13 Tulia residents still serving time after being arrested in a controversial drug bust four years ago may soon be free. 
A judge reviewing four of the cases for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said Tuesday he will recommend that all the convictions resulting from the bust be vacated because of the conduct of the lone undercover officer working for the Panhandle Drug Task Force. 
"It is stipulated by all parties and approved by the court that Tom Coleman is simply not a credible witness," said retired state District Judge Ron Chapman of Dallas. 
Chapman said he will recommend that the appeals court grant new trials to all 38 defendants, most of whom are black -- a fact that led to charges the sting was racially motivated. 
However, Ron Hobson, a special prosecutor assigned to help Swisher County with the cases, said that because the state had stipulated that Coleman was not credible, it will not try the defendants again. 
"If the appeals court sends them back, we'll dismiss them," he said. "It would be foolish for us to go forward." 



---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more
--0-830253859-1049291114=:50988
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii

<P>Ghettoites have&nbsp;been watching this story, so am posting this latest news, just to make sure we all know...</P>
<P><A href="http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/1847867">http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/1847867</A></P>
<H3>Judge urges convictions be vacated because of officer's conduct</H3>
<P><B>By JIM HENDERSON</B><BR><B>Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle</B> </P>
<P>The 13 Tulia residents still serving time after being arrested in a controversial drug bust four years ago may soon be free. 
<P>A judge reviewing four of the cases for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said Tuesday he will recommend that all the convictions resulting from the bust be vacated because of the conduct of the lone undercover officer working for the Panhandle Drug Task Force. 
<P>"It is stipulated by all parties and approved by the court that Tom Coleman is simply not a credible witness," said retired state District Judge Ron Chapman of Dallas. 
<P>Chapman said he will recommend that the appeals court grant new trials to all 38 defendants, most of whom are black -- a fact that led to charges the sting was racially motivated. 
<P>However, Ron Hobson, a special prosecutor assigned to help Swisher County with the cases, said that because the state had stipulated that Coleman was not credible, it will not try the defendants again. 
<P>"If the appeals court sends them back, we'll dismiss them," he said. "It would be foolish for us to go forward." </P><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/mailsig/*http://tax.yahoo.com">Yahoo! Tax Center</a> - File online, calculators, forms, and more
--0-830253859-1049291114=:50988--