Routier appeal rejected - woman on Texas Death Row for murdering 2 young sons

Associated Press ^ | May 21, 2003 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Routier appeal rejected

05/21/2003

Associated Press

AUSTIN - The state's highest criminal court Wednesday upheld the conviction of Darlie Routier, a homemaker in the Dallas suburb of Rowlett who was arrested two weeks after her sons were killed in 1996.

In a 75-page, unanimous opinion, the Court of Criminal Appeals rejected claims by Routier's attorneys that her conviction should be reversed because the record of her 1997 trial was plagued with inaccuracies and prevented her attorneys from raising important legal questions.

Darlie Routier

Her attorneys also have said her rights were violated because her lead trial attorney had a conflict; he had previously represented Routier's husband.

That conflict kept the attorney from pointing to the husband, Darin Routier, as a possible suspect in the stabbing deaths of Routier's two sons, her attorney has said. Darin Routier has not been charged.

Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, were killed in their home June 6, 1996. An infant son in another room was unharmed.

Devon (left) and Damon Routier

A Kerrville jury convicted Routier for Damon's slaying and sentenced her to death by lethal injection.

She has maintained her innocence and claims an intruder attacked her and the boys, then fled through the garage of the home.

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/052103dntexroutierappeal.3df03602.html

[MeekOneGOP]

What a long process appeals takes. It's been SIX years now since she was convicted.

Previous article posted:

State's highest criminal court hears Darlie
Routier's appeal - Baby killer may get off?

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Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice

[MEG33]

She did it..and I know about the bruises.

[strela]

I remember Routier holding a "birthday party" at her murdered children's graves right after this happened.

Local media showed video of the "mourners" spraying Silly String at each other and at the headstones.

She desperately needs to get the needle as soon as possible.

[MeekOneGOP]

Re #2 & #3

MEG33: What bruises are you referring to?

Strela: I remember the birthday party with silly string too. WEIRD !!

I used to work with both Darlie and Darin. It's all in the link in my post #1 on the previously posted article.

Here are an interesting site:

Million Dollar Mysteries: Darlie Routier
http://www.fox.com/mdmystery/103/routier.htm

[MeekOneGOP]

ABC News’ Sylvia Chase interviewed Darlie
Routier on Death Row. (ABCNEWS.com)

http://abcnews.go.com/media/OnAir/images/abc_routier2_000918_h.jpg

Darlie Routier maintains her innocence in the deaths of Devon, 6, and
Damon, 5. (ABCNEWS.com)

http://abcnews.go.com/media/OnAir/images/abc_routier_000918_t.jpg

[MeekOneGOP]

http://www.fox.com/mdmystery/103/images/routier_crime_scene_photo_06.jpg

[cgk]

I've read her case at crimelibrary and she's one of the most heartless women killers I've read up on.

(snip...) "Upon entering the chapel, Darlie knelt at their sides and whispered to them (Detective Frosch overheard), "I'm sorry." She then wailed, "Who could have done this to my children?"

(snip...)"I put my hands on Darlie's shoulders and said, 'Darlie, look me in the eye and tell me you didn't kill the boys.' She looked me in the eye and said, 'I'm gonna get new carpet, new drapes, and fix this room all up.' I couldn't believe it."

These two angels are in God's arms now. Where is their justice?

[cgk]

Possibly referring to the bruises on her arms that the defense claimed were signs of self-defense against an attack, and not self-inflicted. One or 2 jury members claim never to have seen them?

Routier

(snip...)"A special televised episode of 20/20, entitled "Her Flesh and Blood," which aired on February 3, 2000, examined and updated the Routier case materials and found, among other things, that the jury may not have been shown photographs of bruises on Darlie's arms (which strongly indicated she fought off an intruder) nor the complete transcript of the court proceedings from which to make a final verdict."

[Mind-numbed Robot]

She had a fair trial and was judged guilty by a jury of her peers. Her basis for appeals are trivial technicalities. Bye, bye, Darlie.

[MeekOneGOP]

Their justice is down the appeals road. I was glad to see them reject this appeal. I was afraid she might get the retrial she's been seeking. She may yet, I don't know.

Based on the forensic evidence alone, she should go down, imho . . .

[cgk]

Was her nightshirt ever tested for blood spray/spatter? I heard they wanted to test it during the appeals, but never caught up on if they did or not.

[montag813]

Seeing the knife and then the photos (Damon was so adorable) is very disturbing.

I dont get the prosecution's assertion that she killed them because they crimped her style...then why not kill the infant too? I assume there was overwhelming forensic evidence.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for that link and post !

In my link at #4, there is another link with pictures of Darlie's wounds that she received on the early morning of the kids murder.

[MeekOneGOP]

I don't know. I didn't know that was an issue.

[MeekOneGOP]

Darlie and the two murdered boys were downstairs watching TV and had fallen asleep. The infant was upstairs in a bedroom at the time the murder was committed.

The forensic evidence was VERY strong against Darlie. She did it, I am convinced. Post #4 has a link to some of the evidence - pictures, etc.

[MeekOneGOP]

Here is a Google Search I did. There is a huge amount on that search, and it looks like really good info, too. Here is the Google Search with 5 pages of links. . . .

Google Search: "Darlie Routier Biography"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Darlie+Routier+Biography&btnG=Google+Search

[mabelkitty]

Look at her eye. Seems she got into a jailhouse scuffle.

[MeekOneGOP]

Darlie Routier

Hmm? HER right (left side as we see it) eye looks a little off. Like crosseyed, sorta. I hadn't noticed until you said something.

And below that same eye, on her cheek, I think I can make out a scrape or something. Thanks.

[MEG33]

The bruises on her arms that they said showed self defensive wounds. I thought the evidence against her was overwhelming.In all fairness a calm memorial was held be fore the silly string incident.The silly string turned me off but forensics hung her.

[lorrainer]

Darlie: put some Silly String on it.