Texas Death Row Inmate Who Won at High Court Gets Life Term
HOUSTON (AP) — A black Texas prison inmate who earlier this year won a U.S. Supreme Court order for a new punishment hearing because his death sentence may have been tainted by disturbing references to race has accepted a life prison term plus two 60-year sentences.
In consideration for 54-year-old Duane Buck pleading guilty to two additional counts of attempted murder, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg says her office won't pursue the death penalty against him.
Buck's attorneys had tried for years to get federal courts to look into claims that his rights were violated when jurors were told by a defense expert witness that Buck was more likely to be dangerous because he's black. The high court, in a 6-2 ruling in February, said the race reference in testimony was improper.