(Will they be deported? Did the Mexican consulate pay for the lawyers?)

Panel decides not to reindict Mexican pair

Associated Press - April 29, 2008 7:55 PM ET

LITTLEFIELD, Texas (AP) - A West Texas grand jury today declined to reindict two Mexicans whose convictions in the 1996 murder of a store clerk were overturned.

An appeals court ruled in January that the men received ineffective counsel at trial.

Fifty-9-year-old Jesus Ramirez and 35-year-old Alberto Sifuentes were convicted in separate trials for the death of Evangelina Cruz.

The mother of 4 was shot while working at a convenience store in Littlefield, about 35 miles northwest of Lubbock.

Before she died, Cruz dialed 911 and gave a description of her attackers.

Defense attorney Barry McNeill says it's a great day for the two men and it's sad they were prosecuted in the first place.

McNeill hopes the pair will be immediately freed from prison. They've been serving life terms.

The Mexican consulate enlisted McNeil's firm to help the men.

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