New Trial Hearing Held For Husband KillerAttorneys Contest Bed Demonstration
POSTED: 4:51 pm CDT April 12, 2005
UPDATED: 5:00 pm CDT April 12, 2005
HOUSTON -- Susan Wright, the woman convicted of killing her husband by stabbing him nearly 200 times, went to court Tuesday for a hearing on a new trial, Local 2 reported.
Her attorneys told the 14th Court of Appeals that the conviction should be thrown out because of a courtroom demonstration by prosecutors that was not substantiated by evidence.
Wright, 27, was convicted in March 2004 of stabbing her 34-year-old husband, Jeffrey, 193 times inside the couple's bedroom in January 2003. Her husband's body was found partially buried in a patio area behind the carport at their southwest Harris County home.
Jurors sentenced Wright to 25 years in prison.
During the trial, prosecutors demonstrated how they believed Wright killed her husband, as he lay tied to their bed. The blood-soaked bed was brought to the courtroom and used by prosecutor Kelly Siegler as she straddled a co-worker to demonstrate the stabbing.
Wright's attorney said it was over the line.
"Prosecutors are at liberty to strike hard blows. They're not at liberty to strike foul ones," attorney Brian Wice said.
Prosecutors contend the demonstration was not prejudicial and was supported by police and forensic evidence.
"It was a reasonable reenactment of what occurred, so why shouldn't the jury be able to see what occurred?" said Don McCrory, an assistant Harris County district attorney.
The appeals court is expected to announce a decision in the next 60 to 90 days.