Hide Article Text (OCR)
MURDERS: Lack of evidence frees duoFrom page 1granted, State District Judge Mike Lynch issued an order m August stating he would not grant another delav based on the same grounds proposed bv the district attorney. As a result, Lehmberg only had two choices dismiss the case pending further investigation or proceed to trial with the evidence at handMake no mistake, this is a difficult decision for me and one I would rather not have to make. Lehmberg said. I believe it is the best legal and strategic course to take and is the one that leaves us m the best possible posture to ultimately retry both Springsteen and Scott. The fire left only ashes to comb through for evidence Remnants of denim )eans and other articles of clothing were found in a pile. Bullet '•hell casings and a semiautomatic handgun magazine werealso found All definitive evidence leading to a suspect, save the single unknoyvn DNA ample left at the scene was destroyed by the fin’Maurice Pierce was found at the Northonoss Mall near the scene eight days later yvith the same type of weapon used at the scene. Upon questioning, he disclosed the names of Springsteen, Scott and Forrest Wellborn. All four were teenagers at the time of the murdersThe my estigahon ran dry and was not picked up agam until 1990, when Spnngsteen yvas apprehended bv West Virginia law enforcement Austin Police Department officials traveled to West Virginia and interrogated Spnngsteen who confessed to the murders and was later brought back to Austin for tn-al. However, ox er the course of the investigation Austin officials had over 50 confessions, further convo-lutmg proceedings.Indictment charges againstWellborn were dropped in 21XX1 after two grand junes failed to indict him.The alleged mastermind of the cnme. Pierce, was indicted and remained in jail for four years before the district attorney's office dismissed charges against him in 2003, citing a lack of evidence for conviction.Springsteen was tried and convicted in 2001 and sentenced to death. Gov. Rick Perry commuted his sentence to life in pnson in 2005 because convicted killers 17 years old and voungerarannot be executed Scott was convicted in 21X12 and sentenced to life in pnsonThe Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Spnngsteen's and Scott s convictions m 200f, citing an inadequate opportunity for the defense to cross-examine witnesses for the prosecution. The court determined that the men had implicated each other in their respective statements, which attorneys claimed were coercedThe appellate court found these statements to be voluntanlv given but reversed the convictions, and we now know that when we try the cases agam, we will only he able to use the individual statement of the defendant on trial, ” Lehmberg saidLehmberg said the investigation by her office and APD will continue. She said there is no statute of limitations for murder, and as science improves and the DNA database is expanded, they will identify the DNA sample and proceed to trial.While I remain confident that Springsteen and Scott are responsible for these murders, going to trial and risking a result that could forever prohibit future trials of these men is a nsk I will not take, Lehmberg said. We will continue until the persons responsible for these horrible murders are brought to justice.
Newspaper Details
Austin Daily Texan
Austin, Texas, US
Thu, Oct 29, 2009
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Jared T.
NA, NA 14 Aug 2023
Other Publications Near Austin, Texas
Austin Daily Texan
Austin Semi Weekly Statesman
Austin Christmas American Statesman
Austin Daily Statesman
Austin American
