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Prosecutor waiting on forensics in Mullins case

Royal Lee Mullins is charged with murder in connection with a shooting death in Greenville last summer.
Courtesy Photo

A special prosecutor appointed to try the case against a local attorney, charged with murder in connection with a shooting death in Greenville last summer, said she is just about ready to proceed to the grand jury.

“We’re still waiting on forensics,” explained Rockwall County Assistant District Attorney Damita Sangermano, concerning the case against Royal Lynn Mullins, who is accused in the death of Curtis “Topper” Gray. “As soon as we get that, I think we are ready to go.”

Sangermano said the murder case is one of several which are awaiting the results of tests on forensics evidence through the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab.

“That’s my understanding from the detectives,” she said.

Multiple homicide and manslaughter cases, which were reported in Hunt County during the past year, have yet to be presented to the grand jury, which is next scheduled to meet February 27.

“We don’t want to go to the grand jury without that,” Sangermano said.

According to a report from the Greenville Police Department, officers responded early on the morning of July 30, 2014 to a report of a shooting in the 3800 block of Spencer Street and found Gray, 50, had been shot. Gray was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Sheila Linden.

The police report indicated the initial investigation of the shooting led to Mullins’ arrest.

Mullins owns his own legal practice in Greenville and has represented defendants charged with murder.

Sangermano was appointed as a special prosecutor in August 2014, after Hunt County District Attorney Noble D. Walker Jr. filed a motion with 354th District Court Judge Richard A. Beacom, asking to recuse himself from the case against Mullins, and seeking the appointment of a district attorney pro tem. Walker indicated that Mullins is a current member of the Hunt County Bar Association as a defense attorney and had worked alongside Walker’s staff.

Walker also noted that Mullins was a former member of the Hunt County District Attorney’s Office, “and as such was a co-worker as well as maintained a personal relationship with the current district attorney as well as many present members of the Hunt County District Attorney’s Office.”

Beacom accepted the motion and agreed to appoint a district attorney pro tem in the case.