Jackson Free Press

Houston attorney Craig Washington, whom Frank Melton had said will defend him in his upcoming trial for destroying a Ridgeway Street duplex, has won in his effort back in Texas to keep client Tyrone Williams off death row. Williams, who was convicted on 58 counts of conspiracy, harboring and transporting immigrants, was responsible for the deadliest smuggling operation to date, back in 2003, when he abandoned his truck with over 70 immigrants on board. Nineteen of them suffocated in the back of his tractor-trailer in the sweltering heat. Washington withdrew from Melton's gun trials last fall, due to obligations back in Texas.

Previous Commentsshow

From the article and prosecution: "These people didn't deserve to die," he said. "He sure as hell does." Then from Melton's big hearted attorney: "I ask you as if his father were asking. Please save his son, please save his son," attorney Craig Washington said Monday as he turned and looked at the father of Tyrone Williams. "You have the power in your hands to save (his) son." Yeah... And what about the fathers of all the victims? Williams had the power to leave that trailer door open and he sure as hell could have provided more than some water before he left them there! Also this: Williams, a Jamaican citizen who lived in Schenectady, N.Y., is one of 14 people charged in the case. So, ship his murdering booty back to the island... mon! Really sad to see the jury and Mr. Williams treat these workers as throw-aways. Probably doesn't upset the NJam'ers, that's for sure!

pikersam

Jan 18 2007

The title is slightly misleading... Melton's "Houston Hammer" did not win that case. His client got life in prison, as opposed to the death penalty. It's amazing when Life is considered a "win..." tomato, toMATo. By the way, has the Houston's attorney pro hac vice motion been granted yet? If not, he won't be doing any defending here.

LawClerk

Jan 19 2007

I would think getting life over death is a victory in a case where the defendant obviously murdered. Look at the kid in Oxford who killed that cop. It's a victory for the family members who now get to visit, call, and enjoy special times of the year with the person in jail. Unlike the "throw-aways" of Mr. Washington and Mr. Williams, their family members can only rely on memories of their loved ones from here on out. Like a baby stuck in a car seat in the middle of summer..... absolutely sick! I hope the Mexican gangs in the prison take care of this problem...

pikersam

Jan 19 2007

This case is a win. At this point, he was fighting to keep him alive. Which is a victory. I'm against the death penalty, so I applaud the decision. And I don't know about the motion.

DonnaLadd

Jan 19 2007

Is it a victory if the jury didn't give him death because they were bias against illegal immigrants or felt they shouldn't of been in that situation anyway, so they had it coming? The death penalty was an option for this jury; and, if they lessen the verdict because they didn't want this fellow American to die, then isn't even more tragic? Personal feeling about the death penalty aside, this is loss for the justice system if that is the case.

pikersam

Jan 19 2007

I tend to agree with you Pike, but, all personal feelings of the death penalty aside, I find it ironic... wait, no that's not the word. I find it strange to hear the defense say that a case is "won" when the criminal goes to jail for life. Usually in a criminal proceeding there is a clear cut winner and loser. Apparently this was a win-win? Hopefully, this attorneys motion will be granted and he will be here to defend Melton. I think it will be fun to watch him go for a jury nullification! I know JFP will be there, and I pray that they televise the trial online or on CourtTV.

LawClerk

Jan 19 2007

I pray that there are cell pictures and video! So, we can have some justice and mugshot goodness!

pikersam

Jan 19 2007

This was a splendid victory or win. Craig Washington will get countless emails from across the country and be invited to speak at every death penalty school in the country after this. If you doubt its victorious nature, try standing before 12 mad jurors with death on their minds and in their hearts and souls after listening to that or similarly angering testimony, and then trying to convince them to vote for life instead of death. Few can do it successfully. Even fewer have the guts to try. And that'a a fact, jack. Standing before a jury and convincing them to pay large sums of money or not to pay any can't compare.

Ray Carter

Jan 20 2007

Ray, I do not disagree with you that it's tough to stand in front of a jury and ask for life. However, you make it sound like those 12, even though they convicted him would have given him death. Period. I disagree with that statement completely. It only takes 1 to say no to the death penalty. Correct?

LawClerk

Jan 20 2007

I'm with ladd on this one: I too am against the death penalty. It is so unfair that a person in Texas can kill one person and get the death penalty; yet, another in California can kill 40 people and get life. How the decision is made on who lives and who dies is certainly beyond me. Jury nullification in the Melton case makes my stomach hurt. I hope that this city will not have to witness such foolishness. At some point, our decisions should be based on the greater good; not on who knows who, what community you are from or how much money you have. These issues have bogged down our system of justice, especially as it relates to the Melton issues. He should have been gone a long time ago.

justjess

Jan 22 2007

I can't find a link to blog this issue specificlly, so I'll just put it on this one: What is going on with frank melton. On last Friday night, he was throwing another pajama party, fully flanked with the Mobil Command Unit, The Chief of Police and another single mother with male kids. On last Saturday night, it was anounced that melton was paying for a lung transplant in Houston, TX for a 25 yr. old male and last Sunday night, it was announced that he was having a procedure done in Houston, TX. for some type of "medical problem." It was initially reported (on the streets) that melton was having open-heart surgery, but, he denies this and says that his condition will not interfer with his ability to run (ruin) the City of Jackson. He works for the City and his insurance in carried, without cost to him, by the City of Jackson. Why is he taking his benefits to the State of TX for what has been called a "simple procedure?" Apparently he knows nothing about the University Medical Center and it is just another slap in the face that he seems to care so little about Jackson. Just thinking.

justjess

Jan 22 2007

We're about to post a story about his press conference today. I agree, though, with the question of "why Texas"? It's long been known that his health is bad. Of course, he seems to do little to take care of himself, what with the smoking and drinking. I assume he's given up the alcohol, because that's part of his bond/probation conditions, but one hopes he's given up the smoking as well. He seems to be a pretty heavy smoker, or at least was last spring when I was around him. Smokes in his home, in City Hall, out on raids, etc. And we know that's not good for a bad heart.

DonnaLadd

Jan 22 2007

If you remember, he claimed to take blood pressure medication. However, he has always had ties to Texas and if his medical history has been always handled by doctors in Texas, he might be simply following the advice of his doctors. Having said that, he probably wants the privacy instead. You know how people talk.

Kingfish

Jan 22 2007

And, lest we forget, that's his home and where his wife and kids live.

DonnaLadd

Jan 22 2007

Lawclerk, you only need one and the judges can't give the defendant death anymore unless a non-jury trial. Death Row USA is full of people whose lawyer couldn't convince a singe juror to vote for life. If one juror chooses life and withstands the pressure from the other 11 jurors to change then the decison goes to the judge who now has to give life only. Very few lawyer could have done what Mr. Washington did in this case. I will check for sure, but I think all 12 voted for life. I have already seen some of the congratulations he's getting throughout the country as I am on the same list serve. I bet he will be a featured speaker at every death penalty school that he can attend the coming year or years. Great death penalty lawyers, law professors, and advocates will be pointing to this case and Mr. Washington as evidence that any cases can be defended to a life sentence in the same way as they point to Terry Nichols and the 911 conspirator whose name I can't spell - Zachariah Masoudi. I met one of Masoudi's lawyer and was tempted to kiss the hem of her garment. She said she was shocked they convinced them to vote for life.

Ray Carter

Jan 22 2007

Darn, Mr. Washington just missed having another mass murder case to handle!

pikersam

Feb 21 2007

keep your eyes peeled: Just saw on WAPT a few minutes ago that Washisngton and four other lawyers in his firm have withdrew from Melton's case that's supposed to go to trial on 4/23. The report's not on their Web site yet, so that's why I have no link here.

LatashaWillis

Apr 3 2007

L.W., Check the C-L web site. They posted this story yesterday. Today's C-L has a slight indication that the dismissal of these attorneys was Melton's idea. We probably will never know the full story regarding this.

ChrisCavanaugh

Apr 3 2007

Oh, okay. I went there to look for an article but I didn't see it. I don't go there often.

LatashaWillis

Apr 3 2007

Here 's the C-L article.

LatashaWillis

Apr 3 2007