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Jury to be Picked TodayJudge Rules On Trial MotionsJudge Carl Anderson, Monday morning, ruled on several motions entered by the defense and prosecuting attorneys in the aggravated rape trail of Thomas Earl Gret ten berg.Prior to the beginning of the trial Judge Anderson gave temporary instructions to the news media disbarring them from taking pictures, newspaper or television, in the courtroom of the jurors or jury panelAfter the 90 qualified prospective jurors were brought into the 54th District courtroom and Judge Anderson admonished them he recessed the veniremen until 9 a m Tuesday morning when jury selection will begin Judge Anderson then proceeded with ruling on the pre-trial motions Anderson ruled in favor of a motion filed Monday morning by the defense to shuffle the jury panel Representing the defendanton a change of venue from Travis County are Dain Whitworth and Herman Gotcher. They are court-appointed attorneys for the defendant GrettenbergRepresenting the state are Ronnie Earle, district attorney of Travis County and assistant district attorney’s Rosemar Lehrnberg and Steven Edwards, Lynn Malone, assistant district attorney for McLennan County, is assisting the Travis County prosecutionP. M. Johnson and Steve Fontaine then plead their case for denial of the gag orders requested by the defense on the media. Johnston and Fontaine represented the Waco Tribune HeraldJudge Anderson ruled the media could not following the pre trial hearing refer to the defendant as “the choker a name given to the case in Austin.He also denied any pictures, newspaper or television, being shot in the courtroom.Attorney Whitworth said the reason the change of venue from Travis County was asked “was due to widespread coverage in the Austin area to guarantee the defendant a speedy trial.In referring to one motion submitted by the defense, in regards to witnesses names after testimony is given, .Anderson said “I have racked my memory and I have no recollection of a name ever being used printed by the local media in a case of this type “ The motion was withdrawn.“I do not intend in any way to gag any trial in this courtroom and I can say without reservation our local media has always acted in a responsible wav doing its job,” Anderson told the Austin attorneysOn most of t he other quest ions asked of the judge in the motions concerning the media, the judge asked the media to talk with him privately on any part or point they had in question to reporting the story.Judge Anderson also denied the request to sequester the jury during the trial C F Jordan, Lieutenant in the Homicide Detective with the Austin Police Department, was called to the stand to testify about the circumstances concerning an oral confession given by the defendant on September 4, 1977 Jordan testified in the pre-trial hearing the tape had been in possession every since it was given.Testimony continues Monday afternoon into the final motion to suppress the confession Judge Anderson said late Monday afternoon he would ruleon three confessions entered by the state prosecutors as evidence early today, before jury selection beginshie confessions were made during the early morning hours of September 4, 1977 by the accused There ,sa written, oral and tape-recorded statement Sgt Doyne Bailey of the Austin Police Department testified concerning the taking of the statement along with the states prosecutor, SteveEdwards assistant DA for s County.Testifying to the signatureswere two witnesses who witnessed the signingGreMentiurg. 25, testified for the defense saying he was promised medical attention if he signed and that he felt under pressure, he w as fatigued, sick and needed emotional help while being questioned by I he police department Grettenburg was later diagnosed as having hepatitis according to his testimony He said he was promised he would tie given an examination by a psychiatrist A local psychiatrist was scheduled Grettenberg Monday night and Judge Anderson said he wanted to sis- his report tiefore tie ruledMethodist Home Directors Discuss New CenterExpansion of Methodist Home study and evaluation Methodist pastors, parents, orBoys Ranch facilities and the I'tus new center also would other appropriate persona w«f|
Newspaper Details
Waco Citizen
Waco, Texas, US
Tue, Nov 15, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jared T.
NA, NA 14 Aug 2023
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