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Punishment phase testimony continuesBy GARTH JONESAssociated Press WriterAUSTIN (AP) - An Austin'psychiatrist, says ; JamesCross has-not received proper treatment for his violent sexual fantasies and he would be concerned if Cross were returned to society.The state rested its case Tuesday afternoon in the Cross retrial but other defense witnesses were scheduled today.“He’s the same person he was before, but he is untreated,’’ Dr. Richard Coons, Austin, testified Tuesday as a state witness.Cross was convicted last week for a second time in the strangulation death of University of Texas student Susan Rigsby, who was slain with a sorority sister in 1965. Members of the jury took only 14 minutes Thursday but testimony in the punishment phase has lasted three days.Cross, 44, confessed and | was tried in 1966 for Miss Rigsby’s slaying. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He served 21 years before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in January ordered a retrial.Another charge accusing Cross of the slaying of Shirley Stark, Miss Rigsby's Chi Omega sorority sister, was later dropped.Coons was asked about testimony by Dr. Richard Alexander, an Austin psychiatrist, in 1966 that Cross should not be released to society but testified earlier Tuesday that he would have no concern” if Cross was released.Coons was asked if hethought Cross still had“severe personality problems.Yes, I do,” Coons said. I disagree there should be no concern because he has had no treatment. Within his psychological makeup are the same features that were there in iW.Coons said he believed it would take hospitalisation and long term treatment tocure a person of violent sex* ual fantasies, as diagnosed by other witnesses for Cross.
Newspaper Details
Del Rio News Herald
Del Rio, Texas, US
Wed, Jul 01, 1987
Page 19
Full Page
Clipped by
Jared T.
NA, NA 30 May 2023
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