ATTORNEYS FOR COLLEGE STATION DEATH ROW INMATE WANT SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW SENTENCING

  

The attorneys of a College Station man convicted for murder are asking the Supreme Court to review whether footage from a comedy special contributed to him being sentenced to death.

29-year-old Gabriel Hall remains on death row after he was convicted of murdering retired Texas A&M University professor Edwin Shaar and stabbing Shaar’s wife, Linda, at their home in College Station in October 2011.  Hall was a student at A&M Consolidated High School at the time.

At the Brazos County Jail in 2015, Comedy Central and comedian Jeff Ross filmed interviews with several inmates, including Hall.  Hall’s attorneys say they were not made aware of the interview, despite having sent the Brazos County Sheriff a “no contact” letter instructing him to not allow access to Hall without their consent. 

Interview footage was later shown to the jury during Hall’s sentencing, which the attorneys argue violated Hall’s Sixth Amendment rights.

Earlier this year, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Hall’s request for a rehearing.