BAY CITY, Texas (AP) — A judge has set trial for a man kept in a Texas prison for more than three decades after his murder conviction was overturned.
State District Judge Craig Estlingbaum on Wednesday set the Sept. 22 trial date in Bay City for 58-year-old Jerry Hartfield.
He was convicted in 1977 and sent to death row for the fatal beating of Eunice Lowe at the Bay City bus station where she worked.
Prosecutors offered Hartfield a deal to plead guilty to the slaying, take a life prison term and avoid a possible second death sentence if he waives all future appeal rights. Hartfield’s attorneys have until July 2 to respond to the offer.
Hartfield’s original conviction was overturned and his sentence was commuted, but no action on his retrial ever was taken.
