Criminal Justice
Robert Durst charged with 1982 murder of wife Kathie Durst
Posted on · The charge came days after he was sentenced to life in prison in California for killing a confidante who helped him cover up wife Kathie Durst's slaying.
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Robert Durst sentenced to life in best friend’s murder
Posted on · He was convicted in Los Angeles Superior Court last month of first-degree murder for shooting Susan Berman point-blank in the back of the head at her home in December 2000. Prosecutors said Durst silenced Berman to prevent her from incriminating him in the reopened investigation of his wife’s 1982 disappearance in New York.
Criminal Justice
U.S. Department of Justice investigating abuse, mistreatment at Texas’ juvenile lockups
Posted on · The department says it’s looking into whether the Texas Juvenile Justice Department provides “reasonable protection from physical and sexual abuse by staff and other residents, excessive use of chemical restraints and excessive use of isolation.”
Criminal Justice
The man who shot and killed an HPD officer last week used an illegally modified handgun, bodycam footage shows
Posted on · The illegal modification can essentially turn a semi-automatic handgun into a fully-automatic weapon, according to police.
Criminal Justice
A bounty hunter shot and killed a man in a west Harris County apartment complex, according to the sheriff’s office
Posted on · The unidentified bounty hunter shot and killed a 24-year-old man in a vehicle with a woman and baby in the car, Gonzalez said.
Waller County
Waller County DA accuses police of mishandling investigation into a multi-victim bicycle crash
Posted on · Six bicyclists were struck by an unidentified 16-year-old last month while on a training ride for Ironman Texas in Waller County.
Criminal Justice
George Floyd could be pardoned for a 2004 Houston arrest if Gov. Greg Abbott signs off
Posted on · The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously recommended a posthumous pardon for a 2004 drug arrest made by a now-indicted ex-Houston police officer whose case history is under scrutiny following a deadly drug raid.
Town Square
As a school shooting unfolds in Houston, how do we process school violence and keep students safe?
Posted on · Today, we’re talking about school violence, in light of today’s shooting at a YES Prep charter school campus in southwest Houston.
Shooting
Principal shot by former student at YES Prep charter’s southwest Houston campus, HPD says
Posted on · The shooting was reported around 11:45 a.m. Friday, according to the Houston Police Department.
Criminal Justice
Texas executes Pasadena man convicted of double murder in 3rd lethal injection this year
Posted on · Rick Rhoades was convicted of killing two brothers 30 years ago, the day after he'd been released from prison on parole. His attorneys argued that racial bias in jury selection denied him a fair trial.
Criminal Justice
Grand jury declines to indict Houston police officers over the shooting of Nicolas Chavez
Posted on · Nicolas Chavez was shot more than 20 times by Houston police in April 2020.
Immigration
Migrants arrested by Texas in border crackdown are being imprisoned for weeks without legal help or formal charges
Posted on · Defense attorneys have started asking courts to set migrants free because local justice systems, overwhelmed by arrests under Gov. Greg Abbott's border security push, are routinely violating state law and constitutional due process rights.
Town Square
‘Guilty Until Proven Innocent’ Explores The Exoneration Of Michael Morton
Posted on · A pro bono attorney shares his story of fighting for his client who spent 25 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Criminal Justice
An Amendment To Let Texas Judges Deny Bail Advanced In The Senate, But Faces A Steeper Road In The House
Posted on · Senate Joint Resolution 1 calls for an amendment to allow judges to deny bail to people charged with certain violent, sexual, or trafficking crimes.
Criminal Justice
Harris County Jail Employees File Federal Lawsuit Over Working Conditions
Posted on · Deputies, detention officers and others say public safety is at risk if the county doesn't provide funds for more staff.