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'Texas Seven' ringleader denied appeal11:58 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 23, 2004Associated Press AUSTIN – The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday denied an appeal from the ringleader of the seven inmates who broke out of a South Texas prison, killed a police officer then avoided authorities during a monthlong nationwide manhunt. The appeal from George Rivas, who orchestrated the biggest prison break in state history in 2000, was automatic under state law. In 2001, he was convicted and sentenced to die for the slaying of Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins, a father of one. DMN file George Rivas...

Final 'Texas 7' escapee gets deathSlain officer's mother says nightmare ending11:09 PM CST on Thursday, November 20, 2003By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News Six men each convicted for the slaying of her son. Six death sentences handed down by juries. Only now, Jayne Hawkins told Patrick Murphy Jr. – sentenced Thursday to die by injection for the murder of Irving police Officer Aubrey Hawkins – will the nightmare she relived in court six times subside. "I don't have to hear empty defenses anymore. The wound won't be reopened as it has been every trial," Ms. Hawkins told Mr....

Trial for 6th escapee may be challengeInmate was said to be lookout, driver when Irving officer was shot10:24 AM CST on Monday, November 10, 2003By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News Five death-penalty trials have come and gone with the same outcome since members of the so-called Texas Seven prison gang were captured in the Colorado Rockies in January 2001. As the last of the surviving gang members faces trial Monday, observers say the case against Patrick Murphy Jr. could be the most challenging yet for prosecutors seeking a sixth death-penalty conviction. In the capital murder trials so far,...

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...

Trial starts for prison escapee 06/02/2003 By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News Prosecutors reconstructed an Irving police officer's final moments on Christmas Eve 2000 as the latest death penalty trial began Monday morning for one of the prison escapees accused of killing the officer during a botched robbery. Prosecutor Toby Shook detailed how the seven escapees -- including defendant Randy Halprin -- broke out of the Connally Unit prison near San Antonio on Dec. 13, 2000, and ended up in the Dallas area in late December to perform a daring and elaborate robbery of an Oshman’s SuperSports USA...

Garcia gets death for killing police officer 02/13/2003 By HOLLY BECKA / The Dallas Morning News A Dallas jury has sentenced the fourth Texas prison escapee to death in the slaying of an Irving patrolman. Joseph Garcia, 31, was convicted of capital murder last week. The jury deliberated nearly three hours before returning with the verdict in his punishment late Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors argued that Mr. Garcia deserves the death penalty because he was the prison gang's enforcer who bullied hostages before joining the shooting frenzy, prosecutors argued. Joseph Garcia Defense attorneys argued Mr. Garcia deserves to be confined...

Garcia guilty of Irving police officer's murder 02/06/2003 By HOLLY BECKA / The Dallas Morning News A Dallas County jury on Thursday found prison escapee Joseph Garcia guilty of capital murder in the Christmas Eve 2000 death of an Irving patrol officer. Sentencing is scheduled for next week. Lead prosecutor Toby Shook argued that Mr. Garcia, the fourth escapee to stand trial in the slaying of Officer Aubrey Hawkins, taunted and threatened people as he tied them up during a robbery. WFAA-TV Joseph Garcia When other escapees used walkie-talkies to alert Mr. Garcia that the group "had company," he...

Opening statements begin in 4th escapee trial 02/03/2003 By HOLLY BECKA / The Dallas Morning News Dallas County prosecutors on Monday portrayed prison escapee Joseph Garcia as a bully who taunted robbery victims at gunpoint before an Irving patrol officer was fatally shot on Christmas Eve 2000. Defense lawyers for Mr. Garcia, the fourth escapee to stand trial in the slaying of Officer Aubrey Hawkins, urged jurors to carefully listen to the evidence and "pinpoint what exactly Joseph Garcia did or did not do." As Mr. Garcia's death-penalty trial opened, lead prosecutor Toby Shook described the defendant's actions as...