• Leslie Wilber •
• Originally published May 8, 2008 at 11:20 a.m., updated May 8, 2008 at 11:20 a.m.

Prosecutors won’t seek the death penalty for two people charged in the 2006 beating death of a 42-year-old Victoria woman.

The Victoria County District Attorney’s office said in a hearing Friday it would not ask for the death penalty for Amanda Jo Walters or Stanford Harvey, who are charged with capital murder in the death of Melba Lott.

Lott was found dead in her apartment in March 2006.

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office initially ruled Lott died of a cocaine overdose. But the Victoria Police Department kept investigating. Lott’s body was exhumed earlier this year for a second autopsy. The coroner this time said foul play was involved her death.

That, along with newly analyzed evidence, led police to arrest Bruce Hughes, 39, Harvey, 44, and Walters, 20, on capital murder warrants charging them with killing Lott.

District Attorney Stephen Tyler wasn’t available for comment Wednesday. But in an earlier interview, he said he must consider many factors, including strategy, time and cost when deciding if he’ll seek the death penalty.

In 2006, Walters told police she went to Lott’s house to sell her cocaine, according to an affidavit. Walters saw Lott smoke some crack, but not pay for it, the affidavit said.

Walters told police she stood outside and listened to the men fight with Lott, and that the argument ended with the sound of something heavy hitting the floor, the affidavit said.

Eliot Costas, who represents Harvey, said it is too early for him to comment on the case.

Hughes was arrested after his co-defendants, so his hearings haven’t been scheduled at the same time. Hughes next hearing is scheduled for May 29.

Leslie Wilber is a reporter for the Victoria Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6521 or e-mail her at lwilber@vicad.com.

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