Attorneys for Thomas Michael Dixon were in court Friday afternoon for a hearing on a motion for a new trial.
Dixon was not present for the hearing. In November 2015, Dixon was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. Dixon was accused and ultimately convicted of hiring a man to murder Dr. Joseph Sonnier of Lubbock in 2012.
The defense called a few witnesses Friday dealing with closing arguments in the 2015 trial. Some witnesses spoke about being unable to enter the courtroom during the closing arguments, saying they were told it was sitting room only in the courtroom. The issue was Dixon’s right to a public trial.
The defense also called a sergeant with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office court division, and asked him about the seating during closing arguments.
The sergeant said he approached Judge Jim Bob Darnell ahead of closing arguments, asking if standing room would be allowed during closing arguments. The decision was made to not allow people to stand in the courtroom during closing arguments.
Defense attorney Frank Sellers was then sworn in to give testimony.
Sellers spoke about the decision to not call David Shepard to the stand, as well as the testimony of Shepard’s daughter during the trial.
Judge Darnell still needs to make a ruling as to what will happen to the motion for a new trial.
“We’re looking forward to the court’s decision and optimistic about eventually reversing this wrongful conviction,” Cynthia Orr, one of Dixon’s attorneys, said after the hearing Friday.
