Man Accused Of Cold-Case Murder Set To Stand Second Trial
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: March 21, 2011
ODESSA -- A man accused of committing a murder that happened more than 20 years ago is set to stand trial for the second time in less than a month.
A new trial for Johnny Lee Wells is set to begin Tuesday in Odessa with jury selection. Wells is accused of killing Virginia Washelesky in 1990. According to an indictment, Wells broke into Washelesky's home and tried to rape her before stabbing her to death. The case went cold for more than a decade, but DNA evidence linked Wells to the case in 2004. Wells was later arrested and indicted for capital murder.
Wells originally stood trial two weeks ago. That case quickly ended in a mistrial because one of a juror couldn't read or write in English.
A new trial for Johnny Lee Wells is set to begin Tuesday in Odessa with jury selection. Wells is accused of killing Virginia Washelesky in 1990. According to an indictment, Wells broke into Washelesky's home and tried to rape her before stabbing her to death. The case went cold for more than a decade, but DNA evidence linked Wells to the case in 2004. Wells was later arrested and indicted for capital murder.
Wells originally stood trial two weeks ago. That case quickly ended in a mistrial because one of a juror couldn't read or write in English.
