|
|
| Texas Jailbreak Leader Convicted of Capital Murder |
| By Reuters |
| Published: 08/23/2001 |
|
The ringleader of a Texas jailbreak that touched off a massive manhunt across the U.S. Southwest was found guilty of capital murder on Tuesday for killing a policeman during a Christmas Eve robbery and could face the death penalty. George Rivas, 31, closed his eyes and bowed his head when the verdict, reached after less than two hours of deliberations, was read in a hushed courtroom ringed with police. Under Texas law, the only sentencing options for capital murder are death by lethal injection or life in prison, with a mandatory 40 years behind bars before parole is possible. The jury was scheduled to hear testimony in the punishment phase of the trial on Wednesday. In a written confession, Rivas said he deserved to die for the crime, which he allegedly committed with six other inmates who broke out of a south Texas prison on Dec. 13. Rivas was the first of the so-called 'Texas 7' to go on trial for killing patrolman Aubrey Hawkins when he tried to stop the escapees from robbing a Dallas-area sporting goods store on Dec. 24. Hawkins, responding to a call for help, was riddled with 11 bullets and run over twice by the escapees' getaway car. Rivas wrote in his confession that he did not want to hurt anyone, but the officer appeared to go for his gun when Rivas told him to put his hands up. Rivas shot him twice, then at least one other inmate fired a hail of bullets at Hawkins. 'I deserve death and hope when I am put to death it will give you some peace of mind,' Rivas wrote in a line directed to Hawkins' wife. He said his fellow escapees should not be held responsible for the crime because they were only following his orders. Rivas' lawyers portrayed him as a reluctant criminal who may not have fired the shots that killed Hawkins and therefore should not be put to death. 'We just don't know what happened back there and the state can't prove it,' defense attorney William 'Karo' Johnson said in closing arguments. But prosecutor Toby Shook told the jury: 'George Rivas is nothing more than a malicious, vicious, ruthless killer and the leader of a gang of malicious, vicious, ruthless killers.' Rivas, whose hair was still streaked with the blonde dye he used as a disguise after the escape, did not testify in the trial or enter a plea. State District Judge Molly Francis entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The mother of the slain officer told reporters she had sympathy for Rivas. 'I feel sorry for him. I think he's a pathetic, pathetic person who's made some horrible choices for himself,' a tearful Jayne Hawkins said. When asked if she wanted Rivas to die for his crime, she said, 'I'm not much of a vengeful person.' |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Adidas jeremy scott
jeremy scott wings 2.0
jeremy scott adidas
jeremy scott wings 2.0
canada goose down parkas