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| Texas jury convicts man of 1986 murder of Christine Morton | Texas jury convicts man of 1986 murder of Christine Morton |
| (10 days later) | |
| A jury convicted a man for the murder of a woman whose husband was wrongfully convicted of her killing and spent nearly 25 years in prison before being exonerated. | A jury convicted a man for the murder of a woman whose husband was wrongfully convicted of her killing and spent nearly 25 years in prison before being exonerated. |
| Jurors in San Angelo found Mark Alan Norwood guilty of capital murder on Wednesday for the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, who was attacked in her home in Austin, the San Angelo Standard-Times newspaper reported. | Jurors in San Angelo found Mark Alan Norwood guilty of capital murder on Wednesday for the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, who was attacked in her home in Austin, the San Angelo Standard-Times newspaper reported. |
| Prosecutors said Norwood beat and sexually assaulted the woman. He now faces up to life in prison. | Prosecutors said Norwood beat and sexually assaulted the woman. He now faces up to life in prison. |
| Morton's husband, Michael, was initially convicted in her death in 1987, but he was exonerated and freed in 2011 after new DNA testing was done on a bloody bandana found near the couple's home. Investigators said the DNA evidence led them to Norwood, whose DNA was in a national database as a result of his long criminal history. | Morton's husband, Michael, was initially convicted in her death in 1987, but he was exonerated and freed in 2011 after new DNA testing was done on a bloody bandana found near the couple's home. Investigators said the DNA evidence led them to Norwood, whose DNA was in a national database as a result of his long criminal history. |
| Norwood's lawyer suggested to jurors that the DNA evidence linking his client to the murder was contaminated. | Norwood's lawyer suggested to jurors that the DNA evidence linking his client to the murder was contaminated. |
| DNA testing wasn't available when the blood on the bandanna was initially tested in 1986. The testing wasn't done until Michael Morton's attorneys spent years lobbying for it. | DNA testing wasn't available when the blood on the bandanna was initially tested in 1986. The testing wasn't done until Michael Morton's attorneys spent years lobbying for it. |
| Norwood, 58, also has been indicted in a 1988 slaying of another Austin woman who lived near the Mortons. | Norwood, 58, also has been indicted in a 1988 slaying of another Austin woman who lived near the Mortons. |
| Prosecutors also told jurors that a gun Norwood stole from the Mortons' home and later sold linked him to the murder. Morton testified at the trial, telling jurors about the missing gun. | Prosecutors also told jurors that a gun Norwood stole from the Mortons' home and later sold linked him to the murder. Morton testified at the trial, telling jurors about the missing gun. |
| The trial was held in San Angelo after being moved from Williamson County, near Austin, because of publicity in the case. The Texas Attorney General's Office handled the prosecution and was not seeking the death penalty. | The trial was held in San Angelo after being moved from Williamson County, near Austin, because of publicity in the case. The Texas Attorney General's Office handled the prosecution and was not seeking the death penalty. |
| Last month, a special hearing known as a court of inquiry was held to examine whether state District Judge Ken Anderson acted improperly in 1987 when, as Williamson County district attorney, he prosecuted Michael Morton. Morton's lawyers have accused Anderson of intentionally hiding evidence. | Last month, a special hearing known as a court of inquiry was held to examine whether state District Judge Ken Anderson acted improperly in 1987 when, as Williamson County district attorney, he prosecuted Michael Morton. Morton's lawyers have accused Anderson of intentionally hiding evidence. |
| Anderson has denied any wrongdoing. A decision by a judge on whether Anderson should face criminal charges in the case might come next month. Anderson also is being sued by the State Bar of Texas for his conduct in the Morton case. | Anderson has denied any wrongdoing. A decision by a judge on whether Anderson should face criminal charges in the case might come next month. Anderson also is being sued by the State Bar of Texas for his conduct in the Morton case. |
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