Juror who convicted Morton feels guilty

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Lou Bryan has saved every news article she's read about recent revelations in the Michael Morton murder case.

For the retired high school English teacher from Round Rock, it was more than a passing interest. She sat on the jury that in 1987 convicted him of killing his wife, then sentenced him to life in prison.

"I told almost every senior class after that about this trial, and a lot of details sometimes," said Bryan, whose eyes filled with tears, knowing that Morton would be set free on Tuesday based on new DNA evidence. "And always thinking that we were right."

Despite some doubt a couple of jurors had when deliberations started, Bryan put a lot of faith in testimony from a forensic specialist who walked them through the autopsy. The evidence suggested Christine Morton was killed while Michael Morton was still home because food she had eaten the night before was still in her system.

When jurors found holes in the story, Bryan said common sense seemed to kick in.

"Not ever finding the instrument that killed her -- that was never brought in, no one ever found it -- and of course you think that obviously [Michael] would get rid of it if he had done it," she said.

It took the 12 jurors a couple of hours to all agree Michael Morton killed his wife, Christine.

Bryan, now 66, stood by the guilty verdict until she read about new DNA found on a bloody bandanna connecting another man to the crime.

"That's when I thought, 'We did the wrong thing,' and I felt guilty," said Bryan.

But Bryan is not blaming herself. She wants to know why prosecutors never told jurors about evidence Bryan said could have changed the outcome.

Christine's credit card was used in San Antonio two days after her death. A check made out to Christine Morton was cashed two weeks after she died, and the fact Michael and that Christine's 3-year-old son, Eric, told his grandmother a "monster" was in the house and Michael was not there when Christine was killed -- all information withheld.

"I just feel like there was a lot missing and we should have known something more," said Bryan. "And if that's the way it works in our system, then there's something wrong."

If Bryan had the chance to talk to Morton, she said, "Yesterday, I wouldn't have said anything. Today, I would say, 'I'm sorry.'"