Judge dismisses murder charges against 2 men in 1991 slayings of 4 teens at Austin yogurt shop
By APWednesday, October 28, 2009
Murder charges tossed in Texas yogurt shop deaths
AUSTIN, Texas — A judge has dismissed murder charges against two men awaiting retrial in the 1991 slayings of four teens at an Austin yogurt shop.
One of the men, Robert Springsteen, had been sentenced to death after he was convicted of capital murder. The other, Michael Scott, was sentenced to life in prison.
But the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned the men’s convictions after determining they were unfairly denied a chance to cross-examine their accusers. They had given statements implicating each other.
Retrials were delayed after new DNA evidence taken from the victims revealed the presence of an unknown man.
Prosecutors had been told to be ready by Wednesday to commit to a January trial. When they weren’t, they asked for a dismissal a state judge granted.
(This version CORRECTS story to say the teens were killed at a yogurt shop. Not all of them worked there.)
