14 Sep 2015
It’s been a long road for ex-recording studio owner Dennis Davis. Davis was charged with the murder of Natalie Antonetti, who was beaten to death in her South Austin apartment thirty years ago.
Back in 1985, the investigation of the case by the APD didn’t reveal very much; there was no murder weapon found, there were no fingerprints, nor were there any witnesses. So the case sat for more than two decades, until police received a tip from Davis’ wife, who suggested they focus on Davis. This led to further investigation, and discovery of a witness who said Davis told her he killed Antonetti. Davis’ wife later recanted her statement, saying she was angry about their pending divorce at the time.
In any event, Davis was eventually charged with the crime, and a jury found him guilty in 2011. That conviction was later overturned by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The court said Davis did not receive adequate legal representation, including the failure to introduce evidence of a potential killer in the neighborhood. In addition, there was no direct evidence linking Davis to the murder.
Legal maneuvering continued in the case until earlier this week, when District Judge David Wahlberg threw out Davis’ indictment, finding that his constitutional right to a speedy trial had been violated.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the case is that the murder of Antonetti bore a striking resemblance to two other area murders that occurred in the 1980’s. All three victims were assaulted while they slept; all three were in their 30’s; all three were white; and all three were brunettes. One of the other two murders gained national attention when the man serving a prison sentence for the crime was found to have been wrongfully convicted after serving almost 25 years behind bars. Prosecutors in Davis’ case sought to continue to keep the case open to allow additional time to find new evidence. But Judge Wahlberg, noting that six witnesses had died in the intervening years, ruled that a dismissal was appropriate. Absent an appeal, this should bring an end to the case against Dennis Davis.
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Austin, TX 78701
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