Houston Harding Street Raid: Hearing on Gerald Goines’ Motion for New Trial

HOUSTON – Gerald Goines is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning for an evidentiary hearing on his motion for a new trial after the former Houston police officer was found guilty of murdering a couple killed during the botched raid on Harding Street.

On October 8, Goines was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the deaths of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle during a 2019 no-knock raid.

MORE: Former HPD Officer Gerald Goines Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison

Why did Gerald Goines request a new trial?

Goines filed a motion for a new trial in November, claiming newly discovered and intentionally withheld evidence — namely Tuttle’s cell phone.

According to the motion, “on October 25, 2024, the plaintiffs in the federal civil case regarding this incident filed a list of exhibits, revealing to the public, and therefore to Mr. Goines for the first time, that they are in possession of Complainant Dennis Tuttle’s cell phone was confiscated from the State and Mr. Goines, and he was not given an opportunity to examine it.

MORE: Gerald Goines’ attorney files motion for new trial

Gérald Goines found guilty of murder

Goines became the first Harris County law enforcement officer to be convicted of murder while on the job.

Prosecutors accused Goines of misleading a judge to obtain a no-knock search warrant at Tuttle and Nicholas’ home, saying black tar heroin was being sold there.

MORE COVERAGE OF THE HARDING STREET RAID CASE

They argued that Goines falsely stated that a confidential informant purchased drugs from the couple’s home; however, he later admitted that he had no informants and had carried out the operation himself.

After more than two weeks of testimony, the jury Goines was convicted of two counts of murder in September.