"State District Judge Kevin Fine acknowledged this morning that the Court of Criminal Appeals may be considering whether to order him to halt the proceedings and set a date for the death penalty trial of John Edward Green.
Defense lawyers for green urged Fine to continue the hearing that began Monday and is expected to last two weeks.
Prosecutors respectfully remained mute today when asked about continuing the hearing. Their strategy has been to refuse to take part in Fine's hearing, opting instead to plead their case to appeals courts."
REPORTER BRIAN ROGERS: HOUSTON CHRONICLE;
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"The Houston court hearing testimony about the constitutionality of the procedures surrounding the death penalty in Texas will continue to hear evidence despite an emergency appeal from the Harris County District Attorney's office late Monday to the state's highest court to halt the proceedings," the Houston Chronicle story by reporter Brian Rogers filed earlier today under the heading, "DA files emergency appeal to end death penalty hearing," begins.
"State District Judge Kevin Fine acknowledged this morning that the Court of Criminal Appeals may be considering whether to order him to halt the proceedings and set a date for the death penalty trial of John Edward Green," the story continues.
"Defense lawyers for green urged Fine to continue the hearing that began Monday and is expected to last two weeks.
Prosecutors respectfully remained mute today when asked about continuing the hearing. Their strategy has been to refuse to take part in Fine's hearing, opting instead to plead their case to appeals courts.
Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos on Monday ordered prosecutors in her office to "stand mute" during the hearing.
Before they decided to not say anything, prosecutors argued that the law surrounding the death penalty is well settled.
They also argued that Green has not been convicted of anything and therefore lacks standing to argue against the death penalty.
The hearing stems from Green's case which is before Fine's court.
His defense lawyers are arguing that Texas has executed two innocent defendants, and the procedures surrounding the death penalty in Texas are unconstitutional because there are not enough safeguards.
"He is at risk of being wrongfully convicted, wrongfully sentenced and wrongfully executed," said defense lawyer Richard Burr.
Green, 25, faces the death penalty, accused of a 2008 robbery and slaying in southwest Houston.
Burr said Green is innocent."
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The story can be found at:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7328110.html
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;