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Thread: Justen Grant Hall - Texas Execution - November 6, 2019

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    Justen Grant Hall - Texas Execution - November 6, 2019


    Melanie Billhartz





    Summary of Offense:

    On October 28, 2002, in El Paso County, Hall strangled Melanie Billhartz, 29, with an electrical cord and left her body in the desert. Prosecutors argued that Hall killed Billhartz to keep her from telling authorities about a meth laboraratory. Chase Hale, a mutual acquaintance of Hall and Billhartz, led police to the body and testified that Hall admitted that he had killed Billhartz. Prosecutors argued that several people said Hall killed Billhartz, including Hall himself through a voluntary statement to police. The defense attorneys argued that Hale was the real killer and that the police carried out a poor investigation. Billhartz was killed while Hall was out on bond on another unrelated murder charge.

    Hall was sentenced to death in El Paso County in May 2005.

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    Justen Hall was denied a writ of habeas corpus by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on June 15, 2009.

    Opinion is here:

    http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/OP...PINIONID=18477

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    Background on the case:

    El Paso, TX - The man who was jailed for allegedly killing a young transgender woman near Sunland Park in April allegedly killed again this month, police said Nov. 26.

    According to Louie Gilot of the El Paso Times the slain woman found Friday just south of La Union, NM, is another victim of Justen Grant Hall, 21, of El Paso. Police disclosed her name as Melanie Ruth Billhartz. She was 29 and lived in El Paso. Police won't comment on how she died or how she knew Hall.

    Hall was arrested Nov. 24 in Plainview, Texas, after sheriff's deputies and state troopers spotted Hall allegedly driving Billhartz's car. Hall will be under a $1.25 million bond. He would have to post $125,000 to get out. He could face the death penalty.

    Hall had been out on $75,000 bail since June 15 for allegedly shooting Arturo Diaz, 28, in the back on April 10. Diaz's body was found off Anapra Road near Sunland Park, clad in women's clothes. The two purportedly met that night at a gay bar in downtown El Paso, where Hall had been seen hanging around for some time before the killing.

    Hall's indictment alleges he was motivated by prejudice over Diaz's sexual orientation, and the killing was classified as a hate crime.

    On April 20, Hall was arrested at the a local trailer park in Canutillo, TX for illegally carrying a loaded 9 mm handgun. Hall was out on bond when he was arrested two days later and charged with Diaz's murder.

    The trial date for the murder case was postponed because a psychological exam of Hall was ordered on Nov. 4.

    Diaz's mother, Rosa Diaz, said she was horrified by the latest turn of events.

    "I told them you're going to let him loose, and he's going to kill again. Why did they give him bail? Why did they postpone the (trial) date?" she said in a phone interview Tuesday night. "I'm very sorry for this girl's parents."

    http://www.avitale.com/VL.246-12.9.2002.htm#[14]

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    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    On June 9, 2010, Hall filed a habeas petition in Federal District Court.

    http://dockets.justia.com/docket/tex...v00213/431544/

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    On March 2, 2012, Hall filed an appeal in the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit over the denial of his habeas petition in Federal District Court.

    http://dockets.justia.com/docket/cir.../ca5/12-70005/

  6. #6
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    JUSTEN HALL v. RICK THALER

    On December 21, 2012, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals DENIED Hall's application for a certificate of appealability.

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    Senior Member CnCP Addict Stro07's Avatar
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    On January 23, 2013, the Fifth Circuit denied rehearing en banc.

    http://www.supremecourt.gov/Search.a...es/12-1274.htm

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    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    In today's United States Supreme Court orders Hall's petition for writ of certiorari was DENIED.

    Ruling could result in an execution date.
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    On April 1, 2014, Hall filed an appeal in the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

    http://dockets.justia.com/docket/cir...s/ca5/14-70013

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend FFM's Avatar
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    COA denied today by the 5th Circuit:

    http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions...14-70013.0.pdf

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