Death Sought For Accused Rail Killer
Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against accused rail-riding serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz, after he refused to undergo an exam with a court-appointed psychiatrist.
Harris County District Attorney John B. Holmes Jr. made the announcement after Maturino Resendiz told state District Judge Bill Harmon he would not take the test to evaluate his sanity.
"I think his refusal to cooperate shows that he knows exactly what he's doing," said lead prosecutor Devon Anderson.
During a Tuesday court appearance, Maturino Resendiz said he felt betrayed by Texas lawmen and federal agents whom he said promised him and his family that the death penalty would not be sought if he surrendered.
"He doesn't trust America, the district attorney's office, the Texas Rangers or the FBI," defense attorney Allen Tanner told the Houston Chronicle. "In his mind, the court-appointed psychiatrist is just another arm of the state trying to put him to death."
Last week, Tanner filed court papers saying he would use an insanity defense. A defense psychiatrist had been evaluating Maturino Resendiz for weeks leading to that filing.
Maturino Resendiz, a Mexican national, has been held since his surrender in El Paso on July 13 after a nationwide manhunt. Police say he has been linked to nine killings in three states.
Authorities have repeatedly said the only promise made to end the manhunt was that he would be given a psychological examination and be able to have extra visitors in jail.
Jury selection in Maturino Resendiz's first trial is set for March 27.
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