Condemned Killer of 3 in Houston Loses Appeal

A Houston man on Texas death row for the slayings of three people at their home more than 11 years ago has lost a federal court appeal.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments Monday from 31-year-old Derrick Dewayne Charles that he had shoddy legal help at his trial for the slayings.

A Harris County jury convicted him and decided he should die for strangling his 15-year-old girlfriend, Myiesha Bennett, raping and strangling her 44-year-old mother Brenda Bennett, and fatally beating his girlfriend's 77-year-old grandfather, Obie Lee Bennett.

Charles was 20 at the time and was arrested in 2002 a day after the attack at the Bennetts' Houston home. At the time, he was on parole following a burglary conviction. He confessed to the slayings.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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