More DNA Testing in Gregory Wright Case

In addition to Charles Hood's scheduled execution next week, on September 10, there was also an execution date for Gregory Wright, September 9.  AP reports that execution date has been stayed for additional DNA testing.

"Wright's execution to be delayed for more DNA testing," is the AP report, via  KWES-TV.

The attorney for a Texas inmate set to die Tuesday -- says an agreement has been reached to delay the execution.

Gregory Wright faces lethal injection for the 1997 fatal stabbing of Donna Duncan Vick at her home in DeSoto, about 15 miles south of Dallas.

Prosecutors say Wright was a homeless man taken in by Vick -- who gave him food, shelter and money.

Defense lawyer Bruce Anton says the execution is expected to be delayed so additional DNA testing can be done on Wright's clothing.

Dallas County prosecutors used those items at trial to tie him to the woman's slaying.

Anton says the trial court judge tomorrow will be presented with an agreement reached with prosecutors.

Mike Graczyk's AP dispatch on the Hood case also contains this on the Wright case:

Also Thursday, the attorney for another Texas inmate set to die Tuesday, a day before Hood, said the execution won't take place.

Gregory Wright, 42, faced lethal injection for the 1997 fatal stabbing of Donna Duncan Vick, a 52-year-old widow, at her home in DeSoto, about 15 miles south of Dallas. Wright was a homeless man taken in by Vick, who gave him food, shelter and money.

Bruce Anton, Wright's attorney, said the execution date would be delayed so additional DNA testing could be conducted on Wright's clothing that Dallas County prosecutors used at his trial to tie him to the woman's slaying.

He said the trial court judge would be presented Friday with an agreement reached with prosecutors.

"I don't anticipate that there's going to be any problem getting it entered," he said.

"As a practical matter, it's off," he said of the execution.

A second man, John Wade Adams, who also was homeless and a friend of Wright's, also was tried for the woman's slaying and sent to death row. He does not have an execution date.

Vick regularly ministered to the homeless.

At Wright's trial, prosecutors told jurors the two men both participated in the fatal stabbing, then packed up items from inside the house, drove off in her car and traded the loot for crack cocaine.

A day after the slaying, Adams turned himself in to police, directed officers to Vick's home and helped in the recovery of her car. DNA tests of blood on the steering wheel of the car was shown to belong to Wright. His bloody fingerprints also were found on a pillowcase on her bed.

For more information, advocates for Wright have this website.