BEAUMONT, Texas — Jury selection for the retrial of a woman who was found guilty in 2019 of conspiring to kill her husband is expected to being Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
(Editor's note: The above video is from an April 29, 2019 newscast.)
Kelly Sue Daws' ex-husband, former Port Arthur Police Officer Jerry Daws, was stabbed on December 22, 2016, while he was off duty, according to file stories. Jerry Daws was in his apartment at the Willow Lakes Apartment in Port Arthur when he was stabbed.
Kelly Daws was found guilty of conspiring to kill Jerry Daws in late March of 2019. Kelly Daws appealed the conviction and was granted a new trial because of ineffective counsel, according to file stories.
Daws' trial council at the time of this trial was Beaumont attorney Glen Crocker.
After she was found guilty in 2019 David Barlow was appointed as her temporary counsel and filed a notice of appeal.
Daws then retained Cory Crenshaw, Jamie Matuska and Ryan Gertz, who are now her trial court counsel.
Her new legal team instead of continuing with the appeal then filed a motion for a new trial based on their assertion that she had received ineffective counsel during her trial.
Daws was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison, but the sentence was overturned after the motion for a new trial was filed. Daws' previous retrial date was set for June 7, 2019.
Related: Trial to begin for ex-wife accused of conspiring to kill Port Arthur Police Officer husband
Kelly Daws appeared before Judge Raquel West Tuesday, May 31, 2021 morning for a pre-trial hearing to determine if the new trial should be scheduled for next week. That decision was delayed for 24 hours.
West asked the prosecution and defense if they were ready for trial.
Defense Attorney Ryan Gertz said he was ready. However, the prosecutor asked West if the case could be moved because the lead investigator in the District Attorney’s Office might not have been available to testify.
West asked the district attorney to clarify with the lead investigator if there were any days within the upcoming week that he would be able to testify. The judge stated that the case was old and needed to move forward.
West said the district attorney needed to let the court know by Wednesday if the lead investigator had any availability next week. If not, Judge West said they needed to submit something in writing.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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