Convicted murderer appears in court asks for bond

06:38 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 4, 2006 - KHOU

They brought him cuffed and shackled to the back of the federal courthouse.

Anthony Graves didn’t mind.

There was a good chance he’d leave through the front door in a coat and tie 14 years after he was convicted of murder.

It was a gruesome and sensational.

Six people, including four children, were murdered while they slept.

Investigators quickly found their man Robert Carter.

The prosecutor, Charles Sebesta, reportedly offered Carter a deal if he’d name Graves as his accomplice.

Two years ago, after 12 years on death row Graves was slipping toward a date with death.

“It doesn’t matter how much evidence there is that I’m innocent. If they don’t prove my constitutional rights were violated, they’re gonna execute me,” said Graves during an interview October 2004.

Six months ago, the federal court of appeals said just that.

“That he was being unlawfully held. That it was a bogus conviction, and the evidence used against him was false and crooked,” said Jeff Blackburn, Graves attorney.

Wednesday, while awaiting a new trial Graves hoped the federal magistrate would release him on bond.

The judge said he couldn’t legally and Graves’ family and friends understood.

Alex is his son. “It won’t take long. It’ll be okay,” he said.

Doris Curry said her son took it well.

If there’s anything that Anthony Graves has learned in his 14 years on death row it is patience.

He’ll need that patience a while longer.

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