USA - Texas. Chelsea Richardson, 27, white, had her death sentence officially reduced to a life sentence

Chelsea Richardson, 27, white, had her death sentence officially reduced to a life sentence. Judge Steve Herod accepted the sentencing agreement reached by prosecutors and her defense attorney for the 2003 murders of Rick and Suzanna Wamsley. The hearing was mostly formality, Richardson only spoke to acknowledge that she waived her right to appeal. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the death sentence for Richardson on November 2 (see). She was condemned by a Tarrant County jury on May 25, 2005 (see) for the deaths of her boyfriend's parents. The Court of Appeals ruled that the punishment phase of Richardson's trial was affected by misconduct by a former prosecutor who withheld evidence from the defense. Authorities said Andrew Wamsley, Richardson and a friend, Susana Toledano, killed the couple so that Andrew Wamsley could inherit his parents' $1.56 million estate. Richardson was the only one to receive the death penalty. Under the new sentence, she must serve 40 years before she is eligible for parole, though she will get credit for time served.