Convicted murderer Bernie Tiede has won a new sentencing hearing after being granted relief by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.  In what can only be described as a terse opinion, the Court granted Tiede’s petition for writ of habeas corpus and remanded his case to Panola County for a new sentencing hearing.  The Court noted that in an extensive hearing, Tiede had alleged that “newly available relevant scientific evidence that contradicts the scientific evidence relied upon by the State at trial, and that false evidence was presented at trial.”  Although not discussed in the Court’s per curiam opinion, the thrust of Tiede’s argument for a new hearing is that he was suffering from a dissociative period that resulted from childhood abuse when he murdered rich widow Marjorie Nugent in the garage of her Carthage home.

Tiede has been out on parole for several months living in the garage apartment of filmmaker Richard Linklater whose film “Bernie” made Tiede (portrayed by Jack Black) something of a celebrity.  It is believed that Panola County District Attorney Danny “Buck” Davidson (portrayed by Matthew McConnaughy) will not seek another life sentence and will recommend that Tiede be sentenced to time served.

For the Court of Criminal Appeals Opinion see   http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=f9c7bb7d-35fb-4ff7-aeb7-b3a02799558c&coa=coscca&DT=OPINION&MediaID=4d54a00a-ad90-49bf-9d12-177b3a2d2a18