PRESS RELEASE: 8/11/95
FORMER DEATH ROW INMATE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON - CUTS WRIST BEFORE PUNISHMENT PHASE OF TRIAL
Today a nine woman, three man jury in Judge John Fostel's 271st Judicial District Court in Decatur convicted Robert Craig Cox, 35, of Plano of aggravated robbery and sentenced him to the maximum punishment of life in prison and a $10,000 fine. The trial was delayed for one day on Thursday when the defendant, after having been convicted but not yet sentenced, deeply cut his wrist while incarcerated over night in the Wise County Jail. After being transported to John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth for medical treatment, Cox was returned to the courtroom only to apprise the court that he did not wish to be present during the punishment phase of the trial. Judge Fostel granted the request and the trial continued.
Cox was convicted of robbing one woman and one child at gun point at the Ultimate Salon and Tannery shop in Decatur and then placing them, along with a five year old girl, in a closet. The case was under investigation for several months until the Defendant was identified after an incident in Plano. The incident, which involved Cox attempting to enter the apartment of a 22 year old female church worker after following her shortly after midnight, led investigators to Cox after it was discovered that the pick up the defendant was driving matched the description of the one utilized in the Decatur robbery. That female testified in the punishment phase of the trial.
The jury also heard of Cox's criminal history which involved three convictions from California in 1986 for aggravated assault and kidnapping. Although Cox had been convicted of capital murder in Florida and sentenced to death, the jury was not allowed to hear such evidence due to the fact that the sentence had been overturned on appeal by the Florida Supreme Court in 1990. However, the Florida prosecutor of that capital murder trial was called to testify regarding Cox's reputation for being peaceful and law abiding.
"This man has slipped through this country's criminal justice system too many times," District Attorney Barry Green said. "Finally, he received the justice he deserved from a Texas jury".
Under a 1993 change in Texas law, Cox will not be eligible parole until the expiration of thirty years.
For further information, contact Assistant D.A. Lindy Borchardt at 817/627-5257.