Summary of Offense:
A Smith County jury found Gregory Russeau guilty of the May 30, 2001 capital murder of James Syverston in 2002. Russeau beat the 75-year-old Syverston to death in his Tyler auto repair garage. The jury answered the special issues in such a way that the trial court was required to sentence him to death.
In 2005, the CCA affirmed Russeau's conviction, but reversed as to punishment because the State had introduced jail records that contained narrative descriptions of Russeau's jail infractions. The jury again answered the special issues against him, and the trial court again sentenced him to death. Ultimately, the CCA affirmed in an opinion authored by Judge Holcomb and joined by six of the other judges. Judge Johnson joined most of the opinion, but concurred on the issue of future dangerousness. Judge Keasler also concurred. Neither wrote an opinion.
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