Wednesday, 06 February 2013 11:38
Court refuses appeal of Missouri man on Texas death row
HOUSTON (AP) - A federal appeals court has refused an appeal from a Missouri man condemned for the slayings of a Texas Tech University dean and an 18-year-old Lubbock woman 12 years ago.
The ruling late Tuesday from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals moves 41-year-old Vaughn Ross a step closer to execution for the fatal shootings of 53-year-old Douglas Birdsall and Viola McVade.
Birdsall was associate dean of libraries at the Lubbock school.
Ross, a former Tech student from St. Louis, had been dating McVade's sister.
The victims were found shot in the head Jan. 31, 2001, inside Birdsall's car. DNA evidence tied their deaths to Ross.
Ross' unsuccessful appeal contended deficient legal help early in his appeals prevented him from pursing appeals that his trial attorneys also were deficient.
The ruling late Tuesday from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals moves 41-year-old Vaughn Ross a step closer to execution for the fatal shootings of 53-year-old Douglas Birdsall and Viola McVade.
Birdsall was associate dean of libraries at the Lubbock school.
Ross, a former Tech student from St. Louis, had been dating McVade's sister.
The victims were found shot in the head Jan. 31, 2001, inside Birdsall's car. DNA evidence tied their deaths to Ross.
Ross' unsuccessful appeal contended deficient legal help early in his appeals prevented him from pursing appeals that his trial attorneys also were deficient.
Published in
Local News
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
MILLER TAKES LOSS AS PADRES BEAT CARDINALS 4-2
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- With the St. Louis Cardinals leading the San Diego Padres 2-1 in the sixth inning, manager Mike Matheny had seen enough of Shelby Miller. The rookie right-hand...
RED WINGS BEAT BLACKHAWKS TO TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD
DETROIT (AP) -- The Chicago Blackhawks were controlling the puck and dominating play early in the second period. It took all of a half-minute for the Detroit Red Wings to swing the...
Mo. life sentence for juveniles still in flux
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Prison sentences for Missouri juveniles convicted of first-degree murder remain uncertain because lawmakers did not pass a new sentencing scheme before a...
Route N closed in Cottleville, west of Weise Rd
Route N is currently closed in Cottleville due to last night's storms and the high levels of Dardenne Creek. The road is closed west of Weise Road, just west of downtown Cottlev...
Growers making up for lost time in planting corn
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Corn growers across the Midwest have made up for lost time in a big way from a slow start to planting season after a waterlogged spring. The U.S. Department of Ag...
Portion of Ladue Rd closed to traffic for Senior PGA
Crews will begin closing roads today in Town & Country ahead of the Senior PGA Tournament at Bellerive Country Club. From 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. today through Sunday, Ladue Road...
More tornadoes in forecast for central US Tuesday
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - More severe weather is in the forecast for parts of the central United States already reeling from powerful tornadoes this week. The Storm Prediction Center i...
Joplin reaching out to help tornado-torn Moore, OK
Tornado survivors in Joplin, Missouri are reaching out to help the victims of yesterday's devastating Oklahoma storm. Officials in the southwest Missouri city have brought toget...
