News > Top Stories

Top Stories  RSS  Yahoo

Suspect not guilty in death of Bedford store clerk

    One of three robbers accused of robbing and killing a Bedford store clerk last summer was found not guilty of capital murder.

    A Tarrant County jury of 11 women and one man took about five hours Tuesday to exonerate 39-year-old Fredrick Hughes in the holdup and killing of Gaurab “Paco” Rajbanshi.

    Hughes faced an automatic life sentence because prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.

    The capital murder trial of a second suspect, Jeffery Dodson, 39, is scheduled for July 29 in Fort Worth.

    Dodson was accused of being the shooter in the June 11, 2007, holdup at the D&S Food Mart in the 1500 block of E. Pipeline Road.

    According to prosecutors, Hughes waited in a gold Suburban while his cousins, Jeffery and Theodis Dodson, 40, went into the convenience store.

    Jeffery Dodson is accused of shooting Rajbanshi, 28, a college student from Nepal who had worked at the store for two years.

    Dodson’s brother, Theodis, pleaded guilty to capital murder in March and was sentenced to life in prison.

    CANDACE CARLISLE, 817-685-3821

     

    Join the discussion

    The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is pleased to provide this opportunity for you to share your thoughts and observations about news topics. We enjoy lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity, racist or hate speech, making personal attacks, posting advertising or including remarks that are off topic. To post comments, you must be a registered user of Star-Telegram.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.