Start Of Sentencing Retrial Of Convicted Central Texas Killer Delayed
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Start Of Sentencing Retrial Of Convicted Central Texas Killer Delayed
The start of the sentencing retrial of a Central Texas man convicted of killing his estranged wife’s parents and his brother-in-law, who was a local police officer has been delayed because of the slow pace of jury selection.
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(August 19, 2008)—The sentencing retrial for a man convicted of capital murder has been postponed.

Testimony in the case of Billie Wayne Coble is now set to begin next Monday.

Judge Matt Johnson of Waco's 54th State District Court had hoped to begin testimony Tuesday morning, but jury selection, which started on Aug. 4, is taking longer than expected.

So far seven men and five women have been seated for the trial, in which prosecutors will again seek the death sentence.

Coble, 59, spent more than 17 years on death row before a federal appeals overturned his death sentence because certain evidence wasn’t allowed during the punishment phase of his original trial.

In 1990, Billy Wayne Coble was convicted of killing his estranged wife's parents Robert and Zelda Vicha and her brother Bobby Vicha who was a Waco Police sergeant.

In September 2007, the 5th Circuit Court out of New Orleans overturned that sentence because the jury was not allowed to hear evidence that would have explained his mental condition at the time of the murder.

While prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty, Coble could receive a life sentence and thus be eligible for parole based on the laws that were in place at the time of his original conviction.

Defense attorneys hope to convince the jury that Coble has been a model prisoner on death row and that he has changed over the past two decades and is no longer a continuing threat to society.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Richard Location: Here in Waco on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:03 PM

As one of the original jurors on this trial, the thought of this animal getting out and being free just makes me sick. I fear he may go after the Vicha family again. I have had nightmares about the awful things "Mr.Coble" did to them. If there is any justice in this state he will be sentenced to death again. I would love to be in the room when they finally put him to sleep. To the Vicha family > I am so sorry you have to relive this terrible nightmare again. Hopefully, God willing, justice will be served, and your family can finally rest.
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I am so sorry you have to relive this terrible nightmare again. Hopefully, God willing, justice will be served, and your family can finally rest.">
Posted by: Richard Location: Here in Waco on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:20 PM

I was a juror on his trial in 1990. I saw the evidence and heard the testimony of the witnesses. He is an evil and vindictive "man". He chose to end the lives of three innocent people and ruin the lives of the rest of the Vicha family. He showed no remorse for what he did. It was premeditated capital murder. "I Know" the whole story. He was mad at his estranged wife for filing charges of "aggravated kidnapping" at knifepoint. She wanted a divorce. He told her she had ruined his life and he was going to ruin hers, that's what he did. Listen, no amount of "messing with" is good reason to murder innocent people...if you think so, you are on the same level as he, and you should see a shrink. I am sure we made the right decision in this case and the Honorable Judge Anderson said so as well. So shame on the Federal Appeals Court in La. for overturning the death penalty. He should've been put to sleep a long time ago. Tax money would've been better spent cleaning gum off the streets.
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Posted by: Tina Location: Elm Mott on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:42 PM

His "mental condition" is that he was evil enough to kill his ex- wifes parents and brother.
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