Legendary Texas Lawyer Richard ‘Racehorse’ Haynes Has Died
Legendary Houston attorney Richard “Racehorse” Haynes died early Friday morning, April 28, according to a statement from a family spokesman. He had had been in declining health for the past several years, the spokesman said.
“Haynes was one of the most well-known criminal defense lawyers in the country,” reports the Houston Chronicle. “He made a name for himself in the 1970s, with cases including the State of Texas v. John Hill, when he represented a River Oaks surgeon accused of murdering his socialite wife. After the first trial ended in a hung jury, Hill was murdered in the driveway of his River Oaks mansion. The case was made the subject of the Thomas Thompson book ‘Blood and Money,’ which was also turned into a movie.”
He also represented Cullen Davis, the first billionaire indicted for murder in the U.S., and Pam Fielder, who was accused of killing her abusive husband. Reporter Margaret Kadifa writes that Haynes’ defense on the Fielder case is now embodied in Texas law, giving women the right to defend themselves against abusers.
Criminal defense lawyer Chris Tritico said Haynes was easy-going until he stepped into a courtroom, Tritico said. He was legendary for his ability to take command of the courtroom, and effectively cross-examine witnesses.
Read the Houston Chronicle article.