USA - Texas. Despite affair, no new trial for Charles Dean Hood

Despite affair, no new trial for Charles Dean Hood. Charles Dean Hood won't be able to argue for a new trial, despite admissions of an affair between his trial judge and the prosecutor. In a 6-3 opinion, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today denied Charles Dean Hood's request on the basis that his defense team did not raise the issue in their initial appeal despite the fact that they were aware of the rumors. The Court said that Hood should have raised concerns about the affair in earlier appeals. The ruling overturned a May 1 (see) lower court's recommendation that Hood should be able to argue for a new trial based on the affair. Hood was convicted in 1990 in the 1989 fatal shootings of a 26-year-old woman and her 46-year-old boyfriend. (See also 03/09/2008, 04/09/2008, 08/09/2008, 09/09/2008)