2003-01-27

MEDIA ADVISORY - Monday, January 27, 2003 - Granville Riddle Scheduled to be Executed.

AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott offers the following information on Granville Riddle, who is scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003.

On Nov. 8, 1989, Granville Riddle was sentenced to death for the capital murder of Ronnie Hood Bennett, which occurred in Amarillo, Texas, on Oct. 9, 1988. A summary of the evidence presented at trial follows:

FACTS OF THE CRIME

On Oct. 9, 1988, Granville Riddle and a friend, Brad Bybee went out drinking. The two proceeded to drive to the home of Ronnie Hood Bennett. Bybee remained in the car while Riddle entered Bennett's home and used a tire iron to strike Bennett on the head at least 15 times, causing his death.

In his initial statement to police, Riddle stated that he entered the premises through a screen window, which he pried open with the tire iron. Riddle explained that Bennett became angry at him for damaging his property and, in an effort to defend himself, Riddle hit Bennett in the knee with the tire iron. When this angered Bennett even more, Riddle proceeded to hit him over the head until he died.

During the course of the trial, however, Riddle maintained that he had consent to enter Bennett's home when the murder occurred because Bennett was a close friend, akin to a stepfather. Riddle testified that he took a tire iron with him, which he intended to use to pry the screen off the kitchen window; however, when he arrived, he found a sliding door unlocked. The kitchen window, however, was found pried open.

Riddle testified that Bennett made sexual advances toward him and when he refused, Bennett grabbed him, pulled him down, put his lips on Riddle's ear and a hand on his buttocks. According to Riddle, he then hit Bennett with the tire iron repeatedly, causing his death. After he realized that Bennett was dead, Riddle tried to make the home look burglarized in an attempt to cover up for his actions.

Although Riddle admitted that Bennett was drunk when he arrived, forensic evidence proved that Bennett's blood-alcohol level was .29 percent. This level of extreme intoxication would have rendered Bennett unconscious.

Bybee testified that Riddle called him into the home, pointed to a few items piled on the floor, and informed him that the items were theirs to keep. Bybee also testified that Riddle remarked that he wanted "to see how strong [Bybee's] stomach [was]," and Riddle hit Bennett in the head once more, imbedding the tire iron into Bennett's skull. Bybee then secretly left. It was at this point, according to Riddle, that he panicked, grabbed Bennett's wallet and his truck, and left.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

November 17, 1988 - A grand jury indicted Riddle in the 251st District Court of Potter County, Texas, for the capital murder of Ronnie Hood Bennett, committed during the course of committing and attempting to commit burglary of a habitation with intent to commit theft.

November 3, 1989 - A jury found Riddle guilty of capital murder.

November 8, 1989 - Following a separate punishment hearing, the court assessed a sentence of death.

June 8, 1994 - Riddle's conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in a published opinion.

June 26, 1995 - The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari review.

October 10, 1996 - Riddle filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court.

February 26, 1997 - The Court of Criminal Appeals denied habeas relief in an unpublished order.

September 5, 1997 - Riddle filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division.

July 14, 2000 - The federal district court denied habeas relief.

August 25, 2000 - The federal district court granted permission to appeal.

April 15, 2002 - The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of habeas relief.

July 15, 2002 - Riddle petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari review.

October 15, 2002 - The Supreme Court denied certiorari review.

PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY

Evidence showed that Riddle had previously committed numerous offenses, including: the burglary and vandalism of the Oakdale Christian Church in April 1985; the burglary of the Mexican food restaurant where his mother worked in May 1985; the burglary of C&A Lawnmower, also in May 1985; shoplifting beer from a grocery store in October 1985; a flea market burglary; the burglary of a Baptist church; the burglary of the Oakdale Elementary School in August 1986; the criminal trespass of a travel trailer in November 1987; possession of a controlled substance; auto theft; disorderly conduct; and violation of his probation with arrests for public intoxication, criminal trespass, and possession of controlled substances and marijuana.

Additionally, while Riddle was incarcerated awaiting trial for capital murder, he instigated a "full scale mutiny" among his cell mates and escaped from the dining hall of the correctional center. When correctional officers apprehended Riddle three days later, Riddle had a rifle, about 100 rounds of ammunition, civilian clothes, and two tote bags containing toiletries, all burglarized from a trailer home. On June 4, 1989, Riddle attempted another escape by digging a hole in one of the cell walls. Riddle attempted to escape again on July 14, 1989, but was foiled when a correctional officer found Riddle behind duct work in the facility's attic. Riddle also talked to himself all night in his cell and threatened to jump anyone who opened the door. In August 1989, Riddle attempted to electrify his cell door by tampering with his television and radio wires. Riddle was also involved in three to four fights while in jail, each with different inmates.