Death penalty off the table in murder trial

Teen accused of killing uncle

Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton

The state will not seek the death penalty for a 19-year-old Texarkana man accused of murdering one uncle and stealing from another.

Andrew Deiontrey Hamilton appeared Friday before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell for arraignment on charges of capital murder and unauthorized use of a vehicle. With the help of Shoaib Daredia of the Bowie County Public Defenders Office, Hamilton pleaded not guilty.

Daredia asked Tidwell to schedule the case for a jury trial. Assistant District Attorney Katie Carter said the next available date on the court's trial schedule is in August. Tidwell scheduled Andrew Hamilton's case for jury selection Aug. 14.

Andrew Hamilton, also known as Riko Gambino, according to court records, is accused of killing his uncle, Winfred Hamilton. Winfred Hamilton was found dead Sept. 14 by Roland Hamilton, another of Andrew Hamilton's uncles and brother to Winfred Hamilton, on the living room floor of a house in Wake Village, Texas, in the 400 block of Village Lane where the three resided, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account.

Roland Hamilton told police Winfred Hamilton and Andrew Hamilton were both home when he left after 6 p.m. Sept. 14. When he returned shortly before 11 p.m., Winfred Hamilton found his brother's body and discovered that someone had stolen items, including two pistols, which had been locked in his bedroom.

Also missing was a 1998 Oldsmobile Delta 88 which belongs to Roland Hamilton but was primarily driven by Winfred Hamilton. Andrew Hamilton was arrested shortly after 4:30 a.m. by Texarkana, Texas, police Sept. 15 after they pulled him over driving the allegedly stolen Oldsmobile.

Found in the car were items missing from Roland Hamilton's bedroom including a pistol holder, a .357 revolver, a Seiko watch and old coins. Police later recovered a Cobra .380 pistol which was taken from Roland Hamilton's bedroom and which is believed to be the murder weapon.

Because the state is not seeking the death penalty, Andrew Hamilton faces life without the possibility of parole if convicted of capital murder. Unauthorized use of a vehicle is punishable by two to 10 years in prison.

Andrew Hamilton is currently being held in the Bowie County jail. Bail is set at $1 million.

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