>https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/search-ongoing-for-hemphill-murder-suspect-who-failed-to-show-in-court/ar-AATd1UL
WTAF?
They let murder suspects out on bail with ankle monitors that the accused themselves have to keep charged? Am I reading this shit right?
Guy apparently slipped through the cracks in a monolithic court system that can't adjust to situations on the ground.
From link:
… law enforcement continues to search for Matthew Edgar after he failed to show up at the third day of his trial.
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Another report:
As the trial moved into the punishment phase Friday morning, we learned information that was previously unknown. Daily News & More is reporting that a probation officer testified that Matthew Edgar had been on probation for another crime and part of his probation was to wear an ankle monitor. The probation officer testified that a new battery had recently been installed in the ankle monitor, but apparently Matthew Edgar had stopped charging the battery, and the last “ping” that they received from the ankle monitor was at 11:37 p.m. Wednesday.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_365fbcb0-805c-11ec-8fee-03083502918c.html
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It gets worse:
Protest in Hemphill over release of accused killer, DA says expedited trial date set…
The Tuesday release of murder suspect Matthew Hoy Edgar sparked a protest in front of the Sabine County Courthouse in downtown Hemphill on Thursday. Protesters were holding signs and voicing their displeasure that the 24-year-old was granted $50,000.00 in bail during a bond hearing before State District Judge Craig Mixson, and then released from the Sabine County Jail on that bond.
Meanwhile, Sabine County District Attorney Kevin Dutton announced Thursday that he has secured an expedited trial date for the accused killer.
Edgar is currently under Grand Jury indictment on a murder charge for shooting and killing 19-year-old Livye Lewis on Halloween of 2020. The girl was found in a vehicle with rifle shots through her neck and chest. Edgar was arrested shortly thereafter and had been held with bond denied.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_73727fd6-9893-11eb-b335-63eddbe07280.html
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Looks like there is a TX law that said someone had to be indicted within 90 days after arrest, or they can be released on bail. Abbott wanted that waived because Covid was slowing down the court schedules, but got overruled by an appellate court.