Trial starts for Texas stepmother accused of starving boy to death
DALLAS (Reuters) – Lawyers for a Texas woman accused of starving her 10-year-old stepson to death and dumping his body in a creek bed told a court at the start of her trial on Wednesday that she was trying to protect the child from his father.
U.S. judge rules California death penalty system unconstitutional
SACRAMENTO Calif. (Reuters) – California’s system for imposing and carrying out the death penalty is so long and drawn-out that it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and thus is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled on Wednesday.
Funeral held for six killed in Texas family shooting
HOUSTON (Reuters) – Hundreds of mourners heard relatives share pleasant memories on Wednesday at the funeral of six family members, including four children, who were shot dead execution-style in their suburban Houston home last week.
Utah woman rescued after being trapped for 12 hours in quicksand
SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) – A 78-year-old Utah woman was stuck in quicksand for more than 12 hours before sheriff’s deputies found her on a trail in the dark near Arches National Park, authorities said on Wednesday.
Third victim dies after Florida baseball bat beating
ORLANDO Fla. (Reuters) – A third victim in an unexplained beating by a man wielding a baseball bat died on Wednesday in central Florida, according to local media.
U.S. Justice Department says investigating lost IRS emails
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday confirmed it is investigating the loss of Internal Revenue Service emails being sought by congressional Republicans in an inquiry over tax scrutiny of conservative political groups.
N.Y. fish dealer pleads guilty to underreporting fluke
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Long Island fish dealer pleaded guilty in federal court in New York on Wednesday to falsifying records by underreporting the amount of fluke it handled, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.
U.S. judge imposes lighter sentences on Britons who supported Taliban
NEW HAVEN Conn. (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Wednesday sentenced two British nationals to far shorter prison sentences than prosecutors were seeking after the men pleaded guilty in December to supporting Muslim militants through print and online publica…
U.S. judge sentences Briton to 12-1/2 years for supporting Taliban
NEW HAVEN Conn. (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Wednesday sentenced a British national to 12-1/2 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in December to running a website and distributing publications that promoted violence and raised money for Muslim milit…
Colorado sues two foreclosure law firms for fraud
DENVER (Reuters) – Colorado’s attorney general has sued the state’s two largest foreclosure law firms, accusing them of defrauding homeowners, investors and taxpayers by padding costs and expenses, court documents made public on Wednesday show.
