Man Convicted of Murder to be Given New Trial
Posted/updated on: June 30, 2014 at 11:55 am
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man convicted of murder in March 2013 will receive a new trial after an expert used in the original trial was found not to meet certain state qualifications. Charles Ray Owens Jr. was charged with murder in 2010 after running a stop sign, causing a three-vehicle wreck in which he struck a pickup and then hit a Honda driven by Robert Smith, 62.
According to the Longview News-Journal, at the time, Owens was traveling 82 mph and fleeing a DPS trooper who had learned during a traffic stop that Owens was wanted in a Michigan home invasion. During the trial, which took place in the 71st District Court in Harrison County, Owens argued he was incompetent to stand trial “based on his claim of amnesia for a period of time beginning a few days before the fatal collision and continuing for … some days after it,” wrote Justice J.J. Moseley in his opinion concerning the appeal.
Dr. Thomas Allen was appointed by the trial court to examine Owens. He said the Longview man was competent to stand trial. The judge agreed with the appeal that the doctor had not completed specialized training to evaluate incompetency during 2012 and “did not satisfy the … requirements to testify as an expert.”
