QUINTIN ALONZO'S STORY
On February 7th 2003 the Jury deliberated for about five hours and then returned their verdict. Quintin stood as the Judge delivered the verdict.
Cause no.F01-74583- Guilty (1st Degree Murder)
Cause no.F01-74559- Guilty (Agg. Assault w./Deadly Weapon)
Cause no.F01-74561- Guilty (Agg. Assault w./Deadly Weapon)
The Jury deliberated for over an hour and assessed the following Sentencing:
Cause no.F01-74583- Life +$10,000 Fine
Cause no.F01-74559- 15 Years +$5,000 Fine
Cause no.F01-74561- 15 Years +$5,000 Fine
So was Quintin the shooter? Out of 254 different Counties inside the State of Texas, Dallas County holds the record for having the most Exonerations stemming from wrongful convictions. A full 80% were based upon misidentifications by State's Witnesses.( http://www.innocenceproject.org )
Let's outline the facts. Israel Martinez did not see the scuffle. He only saw Santos escorting one person out, and pointing the other out. (Tr.R-111 at 29) It was also not "real bright" outside that night (Tr.R-111 at 115,lines 11-13).
Israel did not know Quintin. He had never saw him before the party. (Tr.R-111 at 58). Israel swore that he only drank one beer during the Big Party.(Tr.R-111 at 58). He also swore the shooter was about five foot or arms length in front of him. (Tr.R-111 at 63 lines 4-20). Or "was at least ten feet away.(See Links/File#15). The shooter (as D on the diagram) was south of of his position, facing him towards the north. Cynthia Martinez (as CM on diagram) was behind him to the right, northwest, facing southeast by the gate. Santos (as SG on the diagram) was behind him, east/northeast, facing south/southwest. The Prosecution used a copy of Det. Kreese's hand drawn diagram (State's Exhibit #31) so Israel and Cynthia could mark exactly where they stood, as well as show where their shooter stood and where Santos was. (See Links/File#6)
Israel swore that his shooter wore "dark colored shirt, or dark blue colored shirt, jeans, black pants or shorts" (Tr.R-111 at 67-69) he gave no further descriptions on race, weight, height, body build, hair color/styles, nor tattoo's or lack thereof.
On June 10th 2001, Israel also told reporters with the Dallas Morning News that he hoped someone saw something and remembered the shooter." (Tr.R-111 at 59-60) (See Links/File#16)
Israel admitted that his description of the shooter sworn in his Police report to Det. Berry (See Links/File#17) (State's Exhibit #51) differed from what he told the Dallas Morning News. (Tr.R-111 at 60-61)
Israel swore he never spoke to any of the 100-150 people who attended his party before giving his sworn statement. he only heard "rumors". (Tr.R-111 at 51-52;2-64) As you will see Israel's claims were also contradicted by numerous other witnesses, even a few called to testify at the trial.
Daniel Baxter's video, (State's Exhibit #35), at 12:35:40 shows Quintin Alonzo wearing a "red and blueish shirt", not a dark blue shirt like Israel incorrectly described. (Tr.R-111 at 47;76 and Tr.R-IV at 111,lines 2-13;125-126) Several different DPD Detectives took photo array's to the hospital and showed them to Israel. He never recognized anyone from those photo line up's. (Tr.R-111 at 51)
Due to the fact that Israel, Cynthia and Santos were all shot in their left sides, the shooter could not have stood South/ Southeast, or directly in front of them. Their shooter had to be located East/Northeast of their positions,shooting towards the West/ Southwest. (See Links/File#18) Colored in red, one can see the gist of the trajectories.
Israel also saw someone in a "black car" shooting in the direction of Isabel's home. (Tr.R-111 at 71)
CONCLUSIONS
Dallas County Assistant District Attorney David M. Alex prosecuted Quintin's case. Alex swore that ALL material, exculpatory and impeaching evidence had been turned over to the Defense Counsel Carl Hayes. (Tr.R-111 at10-11). That was a lie. (Fed.Evid.at 14-172). Priscilla Rodriguez was hidden along with her sworn Police statement. (See Links/File#38)
On April 1st 2010 the State of Texas and Quintin's Habeas Counsel stipulated on record that ADA Alex and Det. Berry also made two misleading statements to Quintin's Jury:
1) "No, none of the evidence we collected indicates that Licho Escamilla was the one who shot Santos Gauna, Israel Martinez or Cynthia Martinez." (Tr.R-111 at 167,lines 9-13)
2) "and did anyone else, did anybody else exclude the defendant as being the person who killed Santos Gauna or committed the aggravated assaults?" Det. Berry answered "No." (Tr.R-111 at 168,lines 22-25)
(Fed. Evid.at 8-10)
ADA Alex was also kind enough to admit that prosecutorial and Police misconduct occurred during the investigation and trial of Quintin Alonzo. Since Craig Watkins took over as the District Attorney in Dallas County,things have changed. Today, he would have handled Quintin's case much differently. (Fed. Evid.at 91-93;110-111)
This does not abate the fact that today, Quintin still suffers from his wrongful conviction. Always remember, Quintin never gave a statement to Police. He has never implicated himself. He has always maintained his Innocence.(Tr.R-111 at 9-10;15-16) (Tr.R-IV at 152) (Tr.R-V 57-86) (See Link/File#52-53).
In Alonzo V. Thaler, civil action No. 3:07-CV-0399-BH (N.DTex 2011) Magistrate Judge Irma Ramirez recommended that habeas Relief and a new trial be GRANTED based on her findings of facts and conclusions of Law. (See Link/File#54). However on August 12th 2011 the United States District Judge Reed O'conner, overruled Judge Ramirez's recommendations on Procedural grounds, DENYING Habeas Relief and a new trial. (See Link/File#55)
That April 1st 2010 Federal Evidentiary Record, and its new findings have never been reviewed by a Texas Court. With that record and newly gathered sworn expert reports,offered under the newly enacted Article 11.073 Code of Criminal Procedure, Quintin can still obtain Habeas Relief in this wrongful conviction.
Quintin implores your time to review this webpage and his records. He needs a Pro Bono Expert in the field of
1) Witness Identification
2) Witness Memory Recall
3) Ballistic Scene Reconstruction based on an assessment of the entire scene, the Physical geometry of the guns and their distances, angles from those shots fired and;
4) A Forensic Pathologist to corroborate the ballistic Expert's findings and conclusions.
We look very forward to hearing back from you. A case brief will be sent to you. There is much more to this manifest miscarriage of Justice. You will quickly conclude that this is but one more wrongful conviction coming from Dallas County, Texas, pre-Craig Watkins.
Thank you and may God bless you richly.