CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A South Texas woman convicted in the 2006 salt poisoning death of her 4-year-old foster son is eligible for state compensation after a prosecutor said he intends to declare her innocent.
Nueces (nyoo-AY’-suhs) County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times (https://bit.ly/2qONhG4) that Hannah Overton didn’t receive a fair trial. Her attorney, Cynthia Orr, said her client feels vindicated and will next seek state compensation.
The declaration of outright innocence makes Overton eligible for $80,000 in compensation for each of her seven years of wrongful imprisonment.
Three years ago the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, citing poor legal help at her 2007 trial, overturned Overton’s conviction in the death of Andrew Burd. Prosecutors argued she fed the child a mixture of water and Cajun seasoning, causing sodium poisoning.
___
Information from: Corpus Christi Caller-Times, https://www.caller.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.