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Hannah Overton's Family Still Trying for New Trial
Posted: Dec 21, 2011 4:04 PM by Andy Liscano - andy.liscano@kztv10.com
Updated: Dec 21, 2011 6:53 PM
CORPUS CHRISTI - Lane Hissong, Hannah Overton's mother, says she's been collecting letters of support for her daughter for nearly a year now. And today, she took all of them, more than 1,200 by her count, to District Attorney Mark Skurka.
"I do hope that he'll actually take a look at it and realize that we need to do something. Someone needs to do something to help her," Hissong told us while in the courthouse.
Hissong also gave Skurka a copy of the current issue of the current Texas Monthly magazine that features a detailed article about her daughter's trial. The controversial September 2007 trial ended with a jury convicting Overton, a mother of 5, of capital murder by omission. Jurors found Overton failed to seek immediate medical attention for her minor child. Prosecutors said Overton had fed her 4-year-old foster son, Andrew Burd, a fatal dose of salt. The Overton's were adopting the little boy. Hannah was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
"The conviction was omission and there's no such thing as capital murder by omission. Omission usually is not a felony sentence. And how would someone get a verdict of a life sentence in an omission conviction?" Hissong questioned today.
In April, District Judge Jose Longoria, who presided over the trial, denied a request for appeal by Overton's attorney Cynthia Orr. So Orr has asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for a hearing so she can present new evidence she says never made it to trial, even though prosecutors knew about it.
Hissong says she's given copies of these letters to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Governor's General Counsel.
Hannah Overton's 34 now, and her mother says her strong faith is what sustains her behind bars. "She knows that there's a lot of people out here that are trying to get her out. That are trying to help her. And she's just believing that one of these days she'll be back home again soon."
Skurka told us he received the letters but couldn't comment since there are still motions pending in court.
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