Opinion ID: 2650094
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reed’s Trial

Text: Reed was charged with capital murder in May 1997. At trial, state prosecutors presented evidence of the murder investigation, as well as testimony by Dr. Bayardo, Blakely, and DNA analyst Meghan Clement. Reed’s trial defense consisted of two parts: First, Reed attempted to show that Fennell, Lawhon, or someone else could have committed the offense; and 4 Case: 13-70009 Document: 00512496780 Page: 5 Date Filed: 01/10/2014 No. 13-70009 second, Reed tried to explain why his semen was in Stites’s body by evidencing a romantic relationship between himself and Stites. In furtherance of this trial strategy, Reed’s defense team called multiple witnesses, including a DNA expert, Dr. Elizabeth Ann Johnson. A jury ultimately rejected Reed’s defense and found him guilty. During the trial’s punishment phase, state prosecutors introduced evidence that Reed had committed numerous other sexual assaults. The jury, after weighing the evidence, answered the special issues submitted pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 37.071, and sentenced Reed to death. 1