Court: Convicted Crowe killer due new trial (Sam Spital)

“In the UT San Diego News, October 2, 2012, the author reported the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Petition for a Writ of Certiorari filed by the California Attorney General’s Office, who sought review of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit decision that reversed the 2004 voluntary manslaughter conviction of Richard Tuite for the killing of Stephanie Crowe in 1998. This is the case in which the police first investigated Stephanie’s brother, Michael Crowe, and his two friends, but just before trial dropped the charges against them when they found the 12 year old girl’s DNA on Tuite’s clothing. If the AG’s Office does not seek another trial of Tuite, he will be released from State Prison. On the other hand, if the Supervising Deputy Attorney General handling the case seeks a new trial, he cannot file murder charges as that would be double jeopardy since Tuite was acquitted of murder in the San Diego Superior Court trial in 2004.”

SAM SPITAL, CRIMINAL LAWYER