TEXAS  — Unaired clips from a Comedy Central roast hosted by comedian Jeff Ross influenced a jury to sentence a Texas man convicted of murder to death. That’s the contention of attorneys appealing the death row sentence of Gabriel Hall.

What You Need To Know

  • Attorneys for convicted Texas murderer Gabriel Hall are petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court over his death sentence

  • Hall’s attorneys say unaired footage from Comedy Central roast with comedian Jeff Ross were shown to jurors during the penalty phase and the footage influenced them to sentence Hall to the death penalty

  • The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the State of Texas didn’t violate Hall’s Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury by showing the footage to jurors

  • The Supreme Court will consider the petition on Jan. 6

Hall, in 2015, was convicted of killing Edwin Schaar and stabbing his wife, Linda Scharr, in their College Station home in 2011.

While awaiting trial, Hall was interviewed by Ross as part of a taped special, “Jeff Ross Roasts Criminals: Live at Brazos County Jail.”

The footage of Hall never aired. However, attorneys say, it was shown by the state to jurors during sentencing.

Hall’s attorneys are appealing with the U.S. Supreme Court. They say that Hall’s legal counsel was not made aware of the interview and had sent a “no contact” letter to the local sheriff instructing him not to give anyone access to Hall without consent.

Attorneys additionally said Ross’s interview of Hall “included numerous vulgar provocations from Ross and damaging responses from the Petitioner.” The footage, attorneys said, “was later introduced against the Petitioner at the penalty phase of his trial, and he was sentenced to death.”

Hall’s attorneys say the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that the State of Texas didn’t violate Hall’s Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury by showing the footage to jurors.

Attorneys are calling on the Supreme Court to determine if the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals erred in that ruling.

The petition will be considered by the high court on Jan. 6.