The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the murder conviction of Michael Scott on Wednesday, making him the fourth and final suspect in the 1991 Yogurt Shop murder case to be exonerated for the crime. We applaud the court's decision, which based its ruling on the fact that the coerced, written confession of co-defendant Robert Springsteen was used against Scott in his trial, which violates the Sixth Amendment - the right of the accused to be confronted with the witnesses against her or him.
The murder conviction and life sentence of Springsteen was overturned last year on the same grounds. Scott's confession, which was obtained while an interrogating officer held a gun to his head, was used against Springsteen. Co-defendant Maurice Pierce was set free in 2003 when Travis County prosecutors dropped all charges against him, and Forest Welborn was never put on trial after two grand juries declined to issue an indictment.
Because the Court of Criminal Appeals deemed the factual bases for their convictions sound, only overturning them on constitutional grounds, both Scott and Springsteen are eligible to be tried for murder again, although no physical evidence links any of the four men to the crime scene. The weight of life sentences no longer rests on these men's shoulders, but they remain isolated behind bars. Springsteen has waited in prison for his new trial for over a year, and Scott will begin his long wait today.
We may never know who killed Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Eliza Thomas at an Anderson Lane "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!" shop almost 16 years ago, but if it is someone other than Robert Springsteen or Michael Scott, the window to find her or him has almost certainly closed.
We appreciate that the Court of Criminal Appeals is abiding by the third clause in the Sixth Amendment, but we hope the court will also adhere to its first clause: a right to a speedy trial. Pierce was behind bars for four years, only to be released without a trial in 2003. Springsteen and Scott have spent the last seven years in prison.
We hope to see valid evidence come forward and bring justice to the families of the four victims, but regardless of whether Scott and Springsteen get a truly fair trial, we hope it can be done in a speedy manner - that doesn't entail losing what could be the best years of their lives.
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