Man loses appeal of life sentence for murder

May 26, 2016 at 5:13 a.m. | Updated May 26, 2016 at 5:12 a.m.

by Lynn LaRowe

Kennedy Riley
Kennedy Riley

The conviction of a man sentenced to life without parole for capital murder in 2013 was upheld Wednesday by a Texas appellate court.

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Photo by David Gottschalk

Easton Hatch, Willis Shaw Elementary School fifth-grader, collects a bucket of water during a relay race Tuesday at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks in Fayetteville. The Water Conservation station was part of the activities to celebrate Earth Day at the garden. More than 1,800 students from seven area schools from grades K-5 participated in the event organized by Shaw Elementary School and sponsored by the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks and community partners.

Kennedy Riley, 30, was found guilty in August 2013 by a Bowie County jury of the Aug. 28, 2012, murder of Troydicus Robinson. Riley and his former girlfriend, Alicia Green, planned to steal Robinson's cash and drugs.

The couple went to Robinson's home in Wake Village, and Riley pointed a gun at him, demanding he hand over narcotics and money. 

When Robinson tried to escape, Riley shot him.

When Riley and Green fled, Robinson, bleeding from a gunshot wound, made his way to the home of a neighbor, who called for police and an ambulance. Statements Robinson made to first responders before his death pointed to Riley and Green. 

About a month after the shooting, Riley and Green were arrested. Green testified against Riley at his trial in exchange for a sentence of 20 years for first-degree murder.

On appeal, Riley argued that the trial judge, 202nd District Judge Leon Pesek Jr., let in evidence the jury shouldn't have heard, erred by not allowing the defense to ask Green certain questions, and more. 

The higher court rejected all of Riley's arguments, leaving his conviction and sentence of life without parole intact.

Riley is being housed in the Stiles Unit in Beaumont, Texas.

 

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