Earlier this year, we posted about the Tarrant County DA recusing itself from the Michael Toney case after it was revealed that the District Attorney had failed to turn over extremely important evidence to the defense that might well have kept Toney from being convicted, much less sentenced to Death Row.
In the Toney case, it took 23 years before the Fort Worth District Attorney’s Office came forward and revealed that these documents were intentionally withheld from the defense. What district attorney was involved? Mike Parrish.
On Friday, a hearing was held before visiting District Judge Steven Herod in another case Mike Parrish prosecuted during his tenure at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office. Another case where a sentence of death was given.
In that hearing, Judge Herod heard evidence that Mike Parrish withheld evidence from the defense counsel for Death Row inmate Chelsea Richardson — and also interfered with her attorney-client privilege. Two biggies. Two big No-No’s.
This time, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office may get removed from the case, but they’re not doing so voluntarily: the Judge isn’t hearing a motion to recuse this time, as the DA filed in the Toney case. This time, Richardson’s defense counsel is bringing the matter before the court.
What was withheld in the Richardson case?
The psychological report of a co-defendant, which would have been favorable to Chelsea Richardson, who was portrayed at her trial as the Evil Mastermind in the murder of her boyfriend’s parents. (Guess the psych report helped with the argument that the co-defendant wasn’t so easily manipulated….)
How was the attorney-client privilege purportedly interfered with by the DA?
Richardson’s attorney is also contending that Mike Parrish did not reveal to anyone — much less the judge — that Parrish was getting scoop under the table about the case from Richardson’s defense attorney’s paralegal. Whoa Nellie.
Tarrant County DA Isn’t Going Away Quietly Into That Good Night
This time, unlike the Toney case where the Tarrant County DA filed its own motion to remove itself from the case, the DA isn’t admitting Richardson was wronged.
At the hearing, according to media reports, Tarrant County ADA Charles Mallin argued that Michael Toney “was a completely different matter” — and that situation was irrelevant to Richardson. They argued to the visiting judge that there isn’t proof that the DA’s Office has any conflict upon which to base a removal.
Let’s see what Judge Herod thinks about that ….
Sources:
Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6477205.html
Fort Worth Star Telegram
http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/1431236.html
Mike Parrish withheld information/evidence in my niece’s case, Naval Academny Midshipman Diane Michelle Zamora, however, made it public during David Graham’s trial, which was too late for DMZ.
Thanks for that MGMendoza. As a friend of Chelsea Richardson I am anxious to help her get out from under her unjust conviction and death sentence. Anything else you can tell me about DMZ would be helpful. Better still, if you could forward a summary of what happened to Bob Ford, Fort Worth lawyer representing Chelsea; that would be very helpful.
I am sorry about your niece.
Paul
Mr. Ames, I know nothing about your friend’s case, so I have no comment to that particular case.
Mr. or Ms. Mendoza,
As a bystander, who has followed the case since I was a senior in high school. Your niece is guilty. Get over it. What did Mr. Parrish withhold; that David lied about, having sex with Adrienne coming home from the track meet in Lubbock?!
Well I find it odd for an “innocent” person to have in a day planner the date circled of the murder with the name Adrienne above it?!
I find it also odd that she would have told Jay Guild and her two roommates how she killed Adrienne.
Your precious little niece is a cold-blooded murder. She may have not pulled the trigger but “in my opinion” David would have never killed Adrienne if it was not for Diane.
Oh and for the record, I am not a friend and/or relative of anyone involved in the case.
My prayers go out to Mr. and Mrs. Jones and the Jones boys!!