Press Coverage

Investigator In Murder Case Questions Honesty Of Ranger

Betsy Blaney

Associated Press

An agent who investigated the 1996 slaying of a convenience store clerk testified Wednesday that he doubted the honesty of a Texas Ranger who also handled the case, in which two men were convicted of murder.

A lawyer for the men asked former Texas Attorney General's special agent Greg Parrott if he believed ranger Sal Abreo, the lead investigator in the case, was dishonest.

"Yes sir, I did," Parrott replied. But he couldn't cite any lies by Abreo.

"There were a couple of incidents, whether it be forgetfulness on his part or mistakes on his part," said Parrott, who called Abreo a "train wreck" of an investigator.

The testimony came during a hearing challenging the convictions of Jesus Ramirez, 56, and Alberto Sifuentes, 32, in the armed robbery and slaying of Evangelina Cruz in nearby Littlefield.

Ramirez and Sifuentes were convicted of capital murder in separate trials in different counties in 1998 and sentenced to life in prison. The Mexican consulate enlisted the help of a Dallas law firm to get the convictions thrown out and new trials ordered.

Defense attorneys claim the two trials were rife with false testimony, were the result of a shoddy investigation and that prosecutors suppressed evidence.

Mark Yarbrough, the district attorney who prosecuted Ramirez, was expected to return to the stand when testimony resumed Thursday. Yarbrough wrote to another prosecutor handling Sifuentes' case that Abreo lied so that the DA would pursue cases against the men.

Yarbrough began testifying late Wednesday but was not questioned about the document. Yarbrough supported the testimony of a key prosecution witness at the trial.

The Texas Attorney General's Office, which is representing the state at the hearing, acknowledged Wednesday that an alleged eyewitness to the robbery was at the store 90 minutes before she said she was. But Yarbrough testified he was sure that surveillance videotapes confirmed she was there about the time of the robbery.

Tina Dettmer of the Attorney General's Office said the defense must present evidence that Ramirez and Sifuentes didn't commit the crime and can't prove their innocence just by attacking the credibility of the state's case.

Testimony was expected to last through Friday. After closing arguments by lawyers, the judge conducting the hearing will report to another judge, who will submit his findings to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for a ruling.