Ashley Gebb, Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif. –
Lindhurst High School shooter Eric Houston will remain on death row after the California Supreme Court said today it is upholding the trial court’s initial ruling and sentence from nearly 20 years ago.
Houston was convicted in September 1993 for killing teacher Robert Brens and students Beamon Hill, Jason White and Judy Davis. On May 1, 1992, he had stormed the Lindhurst campus in a deadly siege, also wounding 10 others and holding more than 80 students hostage for 81/2 hours before surrendering hours later.
An attorney had argued before the seven Supreme Court justices in San Francisco on May 31 that Houston’s conviction and death sentence should be overturned because of evidence discrepancies and unclear proof of intentions.
Victims’ family members who attended the appellate hearing at the time said they were optimistic the court would rule in their favor, as the evidence against Houston was indisputably clear.
Houston, now 40, sits on death row at San Quentin State Prison. A former student at the Olivehurst school, his explanation for the siege was revenge against Brens for a failing grade.
