GREENVILLE —
A Greenville man has the lost an appeal of the conviction and life prison sentence he received for the murder of another local resident.
The Sixth Court of Appeals in Texarkana received briefs Monday in the case of Devin Eugene Royal and issued a denial of Royal’s appeal Tuesday morning.
A jury in the 196th District Court found Royal guilty in June of last year of the 2011 shooting death of Javon Newman.
Royal appealed the conviction, claiming ineffective assistance of defense counsel based primarily on testimony during the trial from a witness who claimed he heard that Royal was a member of a gang.
Royal argued the statement was irrelevant and impermissible character evidence.
However, Justice Bailey C. Moseley, in the court’s opinion, said it was possible the trial counsel had a legitimate reason for not objecting to the testimony.
“One could take into account that many capable attorneys would consider that making an objection to such a passing mention of gang membership would have done more harm to Royal’s cause than good and (despite possible instructions by a trial judge to the jury instructing it to disregard such a statement) would call undue attention to the statement,” Moseley wrote. “Those subscribing to this theory would likely hold the belief that going through the steps necessary to preserve error regarding the testimony would be tantamount to mankind asking Pandora to open the box a second time to ensure that any unreleased evil lurking behind in it might be freed. Royals’ point of error is overruled.”
Officers responded to a call of shots being fired at a local apartment complex early on the morning of July 2, 2011 and found that Newman had been shot multiple times. Individuals who witnessed the shooting identified Royal and Antonio Derrance Fletcher of Greenville as suspects in the offense.
Fletcher was also found guilty of Newman’s murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Top News
Appeal denied in local murder case
- Top News
-
-
A second day to honor heroes
Friday’s first day of the annual Audie Murphy Days celebration featured a variety of stirring tributes to veterans and patriotism.
-
Unemployment continues to slide
More than 200 people found jobs in Hunt County last month, as the local jobless figures remained at the lowest levels seen in five years.
-
City Council to meet in special session Monday
The Greenville City Council intends Monday to name a temporary replacement for former city manager Steven Alexander.
- City pledging to repair fire damage at Aunt Char's
- Audie Murphy Days starting today
-
City buys new computers for police
The City of Greenville is spending $59,000 to purchase replacement laptop computers for patrol officers in the Greenville Police Department.
-
Taking steps in fight against cancer
Hundreds of crusaders in the fight against cancer – survivors, people battling the disease, caregivers, friends and volunteers – will converge on T. A. “Cotton” Ford Stadium in Greenville tonight for the 2013 Relay For Life of Hunt County, sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
-
GCS names top two 2013 graduates
Greenville Christian School has announced the top graduates for its 2013 graduating class.
- Attorney appointed for defendant appealing murder conviction
-
Former constable indicted for shootings
A Rockwall County grand jury Wednesday indicted former Hunt County Constable Anthony Dewayne Lewis on charges of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon involving the February 16 shootings at The Harbor in Rockwall.
- More Top News Headlines
-
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children
Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
