BishopAccountability.org
	Baker's Former Attorneys Subpoenaed for Hearing By Bruce Gietzen KXXV March 24, 2010 http://www.kxxv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12193484 WACO (TX) -- Matt Baker's former attorneys are being subpoenaed to testify in his hearing April 1st to try to get his murder conviction overturned. Baker's court-appointed attorney, Stan Schwieger, filed a motion just an hour before the deadline February 22nd asking for a new trial. The motion cites ineffective counsel by Guy James Gray and Harold Danford of Kerrville, where Matt Baker lived with his parents and daughters before he was arrested for murdering his wife Kari in 2006. Baker claimed Gray and Danford failed to call any expert witnesses, and did not adequately cross-examine prosecution witnesses, including Vanessa Bulls, in his January murder trial. The former Waco-area Pastor also said Gray didn't communicate with his client in the weeks leading up to the trial. Gray admitted as much in an exclusive interview with News Channel 25 the day after the trial ended, saying Baker lied to him about an affair he was having with Bulls, who was the state's star witness. "I didn't talk to him after we had our discussion about him not telling me the truth for six weeks leading up the trial," Gray said. When asked how you defend a person you're not talking to, the Kerrville attorney explained. "I filed a motion to be taken off the case. The Judge didn't want a delay and me made me try it and I tried it." Gray also agreed he didn't give his best performance defending Baker, "I wanted to give somebody 110 percent of what I've got. I gave 80 percent of what I've got. My 80 percent is not too bad, but it's not what I would have given if I'd believed." Gray and Danford could not be reached Tuesday night for comment on the subpoenas. Others may be called to testify, as well. Schwieger has repeatedly said he will not talk to the media about the case. Judge Ralph Strother will rule on Baker's motion for a new trial after the hearing next Thursday. If the motion is denied, it's likely the convicted murderer will file another motion with the 10th Court of Appeals.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.