MURDER CONVICTION OF NAVASOTA MAN AFFIRMED BY STATE COURT

  

A state court has affirmed the conviction of a Navasota man sentenced to prison for the 2017 shooting death of his common-law wife.

Earlier this month, the First Court of Appeals issued a mandate saying there was no error in the conviction of 78-year-old Robert Thomas Buford, Jr.

Buford was convicted in December 2018 of first-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison for shooting and killing 74-year-old Janet Marie Lester of Navasota in February 2017.  Investigators said Buford was intoxicated the night of the murder and shot Lester following a verbal argument at the home they shared near Stoneham.

Buford argued in his appeal that the trial court erred in rejecting his request to include additional language regarding the right to use deadly force and apparent danger in the jury charge.  He also claimed the trial court erred in excluding the testimony of expert witness Augustin Gutierrez, Jr.  Buford’s conviction was upheld on April 30^th.

Buford did not file a petition for discretionary review with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals by the deadline of October 30^th.  The First Court of Appeals then issued the mandate affirming and finalizing Buford’s conviction.

Buford is serving his sentence at the Duncan Unit in Diboll.  He is projected to be released on December 5, 2048, and will be eligible for parole beginning December 7, 2033.