Bryant v. Texas

Applicant Billy Ray Bryant was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Applicant argued that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at his trial. Janie Mussett (Janie), Applicant’s live-in girlfriend at the time of the murders, was interviewed by police once the case was reopened, and after being told that she failed a polygraph test, she signed a written statement implicating Applicant. Applicant argued that trial counsel was ineffective because of his repeated failures to object to the polygraph evidence about Janie. After review of the trial court record, the Court of Criminal Appeals concluded that Applicant had shown by a preponderance of the evidence, that his trial counsel was deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced him. As a result, Applicant was granted habeas relief. The trial court's judgment was set aside, and the case remanded for further proceedings. View "Bryant v. Texas" on Justia Law