Free Republic

Escapee sentenced to death for killing Irving policeman 06/12/2003 By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News Dallas County jurors on Thursday returned the death penalty for a prison escapee convicted of killing an Irving policeman. Randy Halprin was sentenced after jurors deliberated nearly five hours Wednesday without reaching agreement. By 6 p.m., air conditioning had been turned off at the Frank Crowley Criminal Courts Building and District Judge Vickers Cunningham made the decision to sequester the panel at a hotel and resume deliberations Thursday morning. Randy Halprin Mr. Halprin's trial marks the longest deliberations so far of the five...

Guilty verdict in escapee trial 06/09/2003 From Staff Reports Dallas County jurors deliberated for about two hours Monday before finding Randy Halprin guilty of capital murder in the death of an Irving police officer on Christmas Eve 2000. The punishment phase of the trial now begins. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Randy Halprin Mr. Halprin, 25, was one of seven men who escaped from the Connally Unit prison near San Antonio in December 2000. The group ended up in Irving, where a robbery at an Oshman's SuperSports USA store turned deadly. Officer Aubrey Hawkins was responding to a suspicious...

Halprin denies shooting Irving officer 06/05/2003 By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News On the fourth day of his capital murder trial for the death of an Irving police officer, prison escapee Randy Halprin denied taking part in the officer’s shooting death during a botched robbery Christmas Eve 2000. Mr. Halprin, 25, briefly described the Dec. 13, 2000, escape of seven inmates from the Connally Unit prison near San Antonio. When the trial resumes Thursday afternoon, Mr. Halprin is expected to continue testimony, including greater detail of his role in the gang and involvement in the robbery. Prosecutors will...