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Press CoverageThe word is rapidly spreading about the efforts to free Alberto and Jesus from their wrongful convictions. Here's what the press is saying about this important case. February 11, 2008 abcnews.com Nearly a decade after two men were convicted of killing Evangelina Cruz during a convenience store robbery, questions about her death still nag at her daughter. January 28, 2008 Texas Lawyer When Barry McNeil first read a memo about the trials of two Mexican nationals serving life sentences for the brutal murder of a convenience store clerk, he recalls thinking, "This doesn't sound right." January 19, 2008 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Orders New Trials for Two Men Convicted for 1996 Panhandle Murder PRNewswire The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has reversed and vacated the convictions of two indigent Mexican nationals who have spent the last 12 years in prison on life sentences for the Aug. 6, 1996 killing of a convenience store clerk in the Texas Panhandle. January 19, 2008 New Trials for Men Convicted in Littlefield Murder kcbd.com Two men serving life sentences for the murder of a Panhandle convenience store clerk have been granted new trials. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin has ruled they received ineffective counsel the first time around. January 19, 2008 Court tosses out verdicts in store-clerk killing Houston Chronicle The fate of two Mexican men is in the hands of West Texas prosecutors after the state's highest criminal court overturned their convictions and said they are entitled to new trials in the slaying of a convenience store clerk. January 18, 2008 New Trial For Two Men Convicted of Capital Murder everythinglubbock.com The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the conviction of two men accused of killing a Littlefield woman. August 24, 2007 Convicted Murderers Could Get New Trial kcbd.com Two Mexican nationals convicted in a 1996 Littlefield murder could get a new trial. August 24, 2007 Judge wants convicted killers retried He says that men found guilty of capital murder had ineffective counsel Houston Chronicle A state district judge in the Panhandle has recommended a new trial for two Mexican men convicted in the 1996 capital murder of a convenience store clerk despite a possible alibi, lack of physical evidence, problematic testimony, and alleged police and prosecutorial misconduct. August 24, 2007 New trials recommended for 2 Mexican nationals Dallas Morning News A retrial could be in the works for two men convicted of murdering a woman outside a convenience store 11 years ago in West Texas. August 24, 2007 Judge recommends new trial for Mexican nationals in murder case Lubbock Avalanche Journal A judge has determined that two Mexican nationals convicted for the murder of a convenience store clerk in Littlefield in 1996 should receive new trials because they received ineffective counsel. This story also ran in:
May 8, 2006 KLBK 13 TV News Two men have already spent 10 years in jail for the murder of a Littlefield woman. Last week, the State of Texas said one of the men should receive a new trial. May 6, 2006 Judge hears final arguments in 1996 murder case appeal KRISTV.COM Corpus Christi, TX A judge in Lubbock has heard final arguments appealing the murder convictions of two men in the death of a convenience store clerk. May 5, 2006 DA says murder verdicts correct He accuses lawyers of using 'smoke and mirrors' in case from West Texas Houston Chronicle Facing opposition from fellow prosecutors and the possibility that two capital murder convictions from a 1996 slaying will be overturned sooner or later, a West Texas district attorney stood his ground Thursday and argued the state got it right the first time. This story also ran in:
May 4, 2006 Convicted Killers Appeal To Lubbock Judge News Channel 11, Lubbock TX Two convicted killers are appealing to a Lubbock judge for a second chance. May 2, 2006 New trial sought in 1996 murder The Washington Times An unusual coalition of Texas officials and a Dallas law firm agreed last week that a Mexican citizen -- accused and convicted of a murder in a small West Texas town 10 years ago -- did not get a fair trial. April 29, 2006 Questions Abound In 1996 Murder Convictions KAMC28 Local News Ten years ago, two men were convicted of murdering a Littlefield convenience store clerk. Now, there are questions whether the wrong men are in prison. April 28, 2006 State backs new trial for inmate in 1996 murder Attorneys point to incompetence and lies, saying 1 of 2 convicted didn't see a fair process Houston Chronicle One of two Mexican men convicted in the 1996 murder of a West Texas convenience store clerk deserves a new trial because of a lying Texas Ranger, a prosecutor who ignored the lie and the failure of defense attorneys to properly investigate, state attorneys said Thursday. April 27, 2006 State of Texas Thinks Man Convicted In 1996 Murder Should Be Granted New Trial KAMC28 Local News The State of Texas now says one of two men in prison for the murder of a Littlefield woman deserves a new trial. April 27, 2006 State admits error in 10-year-old murder case Press Release Ten years after two men were convicted for the murder of a Panhandle convenience store clerk, the State of Texas today agreed that at least one should receive a new trial. April 16, 2006 Defense claims that mistaken IDs led to convictions Houston Chronicle Jesus Ramirez believes he picked the wrong night to be on U.S. 84. "They just wanted to put somebody in jail," Ramirez, housed at the Stiles Unit near Beaumont, said recently. November 14, 2005 Defense grills Texas Ranger over investigation into murder Defense argues court should revisit case Lubbock Avalanche-Journal A Texas Ranger who investigated a 1996 murder in Littlefield took the witness stand Monday during an evidentiary hearing aimed at overturning the convictions of two men who claim they are innocent although separate juries found them guilty. November 15, 2005 Texas Ranger admits giving incorrect testimony in trial Associated Press A Texas Ranger has admitted giving incorrect testimony during the trial of two men convicted in the 1996 slaying of a convenience store clerk, but denied intentionally misleading anyone. November 14, 2005 Ranger concedes faults in testimony in slaying Investigator denies he deliberately misled in W. Texas case from '96 The Dallas Morning News An investigator for the state's elite Texas Rangers was grilled Monday by appellate lawyers who contend he altered and concealed evidence to help convict two Mexican citizens of a 1996 convenience store killing. November 14, 2005 Convicted killers press for release Defense argues court should revisit case Lubbock Avalanche-Journal The efforts of two men to have their murder convictions overturned continues today with the conclusion of a habeas corpus evidentiary hearing at the Lubbock County Courthouse. October 7, 2005 Lawyers say info left out in '98; killers got justice, family thinks The Dallas Morning News LITTLEFIELD, Texas -- Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez were convicted of murdering a convenience store clerk during a late-night holdup here nine years ago. But were they guilty? An investigation by a Dallas law firm at the behest of the Mexican Consulate has found a pile of evidence that doesn't seem to add up. September 27, 2005 Defense Questions Why DA Claims Ranger Lied About Murder Case Lubbock Avalanche-Journal A defense attorney on Monday tried to determine what Lamb County District Attorney Mark Yarbrough meant when he wrote that a Texas Ranger lied to get him to file a murder case against two men. September 11, 2005 Judge rules in favor of prosecutors The Lamb County Leader News Friday afternoon, Lamb County District 154 Judge Felix Klein affirmed an order of Jan. 2004 and will continue to allow Lamb County DA Mark Yarbrough and Assistant DA Scott Say to represent the state in the habeas corpus hearing for Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez. September 4, 2005 Habeas Corpus hearing delayed on cases for convicts The Lamb County Leader News The habeas corpus hearing for convicted killers Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez, which began Monday in the 99th District Court of Lubbock County, has recessed Thursday afternoon till next Friday, September 9. September 2, 2005 Hispanic convicts to wait for decision Al Dia LUBBOCK - Two Mexicans who claim there are innocent of killing a teller during an assault in 1996 will have to wait at least one more week to see if they spend the rest of life in prison. September 2, 2005 Role Of Prosecutor Brings Halt To Sifuentes-Ramirez Hearing Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Efforts by Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez to overturn their murder convictions came to a halt Thursday. The prosecutor in their original trials realized he remained the lead attorney in the current habeas corpus case and should not testify in this week's hearing. September 1, 2005 Suspects' descriptions differ in store clerk's slaying Associated Press An investigator's description of two suspects in the 1996 armed robbery and murder of a convenience store clerk differed in several ways from that provided by the officer who interviewed the dying victim, according to court testimony Thursday. This story also ran in:
September 1, 2005 Former Prosecutor In Murder Trial Refutes Claim Of Flawed Testimony Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Lamb County District Attorney Mark Yarbrough, who helped gain murder convictions in 1998 for two men who say they did not commit the crime, testified Wednesday that he is still unaware that the eyewitness testimony to the crime was flawed. August 31, 2005 New Evidence Being Presented For Convicted Killers The Lamb County Leader News, Volume 48 Number 40 As part of the appeals process, two men who were convicted of murder by Lamb County Juries, are now receiving a hearing in the Lubbock County 99th Court, before appointed Judge Marvin Marshall. August 31, 2005 Investigator In Murder Case Questions Honesty Of Ranger 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. This story also ran in:
August 31, 2005 Inmate Testifies Brothers Committed Murder, Not Duo In Prison Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Oscar Balderas is convinced that Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez did not shoot and kill Evangelina Cruz on Aug. 6, 1996, because he talked to whom he perceives to be the true killers shortly afterward in the Hockley County Jail, Balderas testified Tuesday in 99th District Court. August 30, 2005 Hearing on Clearing Two Men of Littlefield Murder Held KLBK, Lubbock, Local News Two men charged and convicted for the murder of a mother of four could get a second chance of freedom. Monday morning, a hearing to help clear them began. August 30, 2005 Testimony Backs Innocence Claims Of Pair Convicted In Killing Lubbock Avalanche-Journal A Texas Ranger lied, the state hid evidence and the defense team failed to uncover mitigating facts that could have saved Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez from a murder conviction, according to testimony Monday during a hearing that could lead to freedom for the two men. August 29, 2005 Claims Of New Evidence Win Convicted Killers Court Hearing Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez happened upon an old acquaintance in a Lubbock nightclub on the night of Aug. 5, 1996, and left the place when it closed down at 2 a.m. the next day, according to court documents. August 27, 2005 Life Sentences Of Two Mexican Men Under Scrutiny Associated Press LUBBOCK, Texas - Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez had enjoyed a night of music and dancing at a Lubbock club in 1996 before police investigating a robbery and fatal shooting at a convenience store stopped them on their drive home. This story also ran in:
August 17, 2005 LULAC Clarifies its position on the Sifuentes-Ramirez Case Texas leaders of the Hispanic advocacy group say they back a hearing for new trials in the cases against Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez. July 27, 2005 New Evidence Could Overturn Convictions of Two Men In 1996 Littlefield Murder KLBK, Lubbock, Local News LITTLEFIELD--New evidence could clear two men convicted of murdering a woman. Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez were convicted and sentenced to life for the 1996 murder of Evangelina Cruz. July 25, 2005 Local law firm and Mexican government say convicted murderers are innocent CBS 11 TV - Investigations KTVT Channel 11 in Dallas aired an investigation of the Sifuentes-Ramirez case on its 10 p.m. news show. The report explores the problems with the state's case through interviews with lead defense attorney Barry McNeil of Haynes and Boone, LLP, defendant Jesus Ramirez, Miguel Eduardo Rea Falcon of the Dallas Mexican Consulate and former Texas Attorney General's Office investigator Greg Parrott. Click here to read a transcript of the Special Report. To see the video, go to the Channel 11 News Video Library. Scroll down to "Mexican Government pressures Texas to release 2 men serving life sentences." Ginger Allen reports (10pm 7/25/05). Family Of Convicted Man Moves Away To Avoid Harassment Al Dia Since one of his brother's was arrested on murder charges in 1996, the family's life was made unbearable by insults, harassment and even threats by the people close to the deceased who the authorities maintain was murdered by Alberto Sifuentes and Jesus Ramirez during a robbery of a convenient store in Littlefield, Texas. They were so scared that they did not feel secure in the nearby town of Muleshoe, so they picked up their belongings, left their jobs and abandoned their homes, they said. July 4, 2005 Mexicans' conviction getting new look The Washington Times "Some veteran lawyers said the prosecution cases were so weak that sanctions should be brought against the district attorney and his aides. Lamb County District Attorney Mark Yarbrough and his assistant, Scott Say, likely will testify about their roles in the two prosecutions. Barry F. McNeil, a partner in charge of Dallas' Haynes and Boone LLP law firm's pro-bono reinvestigation, charged that not only was the prosecution tainted by "testimony the D.A. knew was false," but also that the two men's attorneys were extremely derelict." December 29, 2004 Mexican Consulate seeks new trial in '96 slaying The Dallas Morning News and Al Dia "Officials from the Mexican Consulate are calling for a new trial for two immigrants convicted of murdering a store clerk in 1996 because, they say, there's evidence they did not commit the crime. Luis Lara, vice consul for protection in Dallas, alleges that authorities in West Texas ignored testimony from three witnesses who place Alberto Sifuentes, 30, and Jesús Ramírez, 55, in another city at the time of the crime. A fourth witness testified that he heard someone else confess to the murder in prison. "We got involved in the case because we feel these two men were convicted of capital murder without sufficient evidence. It is clear to us that these men are innocent," said Mr. Lara, adding that the consulate contacted a law firm to investigate the case and appeal the 1998 guilty verdicts. The two men received life sentences." |
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