RESULTS: Not Guilty of Capital Murder

In a significant legal victory, Attorney Jacob Blizzard successfully defended Damian Cate, who faced a Capital Murder charge in the 42nd District Court of Taylor County, Texas.

The case involved the tragic stabbing and disposal of a newborn infant, with additional charges of Tampering with Evidence.

Details

Damian Cate was implicated in the murder alongside the infant’s mother, Amber Craker, who was defended by a different law firm. Despite the gravity of the charges, Mr. Blizzard was able to secure a “Not Guilty” verdict for Mr. Cate – a rare and notable outcome for such serious allegations.

Defense

During the trial, Mr. Blizzard effectively demonstrated to the jury that Mr. Cate’s incriminating statements were the result of coerced testimony.

He highlighted Mr. Cate’s intellectual disabilities and the undue pressure of over 12 hours of interrogation, which followed two days without rest. These factors, he argued, led to false confessions of involvement.

Furthermore, Mr. Blizzard provided compelling evidence showing that Amber Craker had hidden her pregnancy from Mr. Cate and acted independently.

The physical evidence presented proved that Mr. Cate’s statements made during interrogation were factually impossible.

Outcome

This outcome not only vindicated Mr. Cate but also underscored the importance of thorough and compassionate legal representation in complex cases.

Attorney Jacob Blizzard’s commitment to justice and his strategic legal acumen were pivotal in achieving this remarkable verdict.

News Release provided to the Media – January 25, 2016

I am the attorney representing Damian Cate. On behalf of Mr. Cate, I am requesting that all news media outlets refrain from attempting to interview Mr. Cate at the Taylor County Jail. I am happy to address questions that media outlets may have regarding Mr. Cate’s case as more information becomes available to extent that such disclosure is appropriate.

Mr. Cate’s situation requires that he not speak publicly about his case as such information may be misconstrued by the public or the state in the prosecution of Mr. Cate. In addition, Mr. Cate is a young man with disabilities from mental retardation with memory and mental processing difficulties and may be influenced to say things that are not accurate. All of our community seeks to find the truth. The information being distributed in the media does not present a full picture of the events. I would caution the public not to make premature conclusions about what did or did not transpire based on the limited investigative documents and reports obtained by the media.

In the United States, all persons accused of a crime are presumed to be innocent. The presumption of innocence is a crucial part of who we are as Americans, because as Americans we greatly value liberty and freedom. All persons are entitled to a trial by a jury of his peers where the government would be required to prove that he did commit a crime. The rights of all Taylor County citizens are hurt when the fellow citizens make prejudgments based on limited account of events. I ask that the citizens of Taylor County afford Mr. Cate the same presumption of innocence that they would want if they or a loved one was accused of a crime.

-January 2016

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Jacob is noted by the Seventh Administrative Judicial Region of Texas as being one of two attorneys in the region who is qualified for appointment as Lead Appellate Counsel in capital cases in which the death penalty is sought.

Attorney Jacob Blizzard works tirelessly to achieve the greatest possible results for each of our clients and their families. This is one of his successful results, settlements, and verdicts. Every case and client is unique and depends upon the individual facts and circumstances of each case. Clients may or may not obtain the same or similar results in each case.