a man on death row for the 1995 fatal beating of his former prison...

a man on death row for the 1995 fatal beating of his former prison cellmate was resentenced to life in prison under a deal with prosecutors intended to end his appeals.
Daniel M. Johnson, 51, agreed not to pursue any further appeals over whether his attorney was ineffective in exchange for a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Assistant Attorney General John Connor said after today’s hearing that prosecutors agreed to the deal over concern that if a judge ruled in Johnson's favor on the appeal, the murder conviction could be in jeopardy.
Johnson was convicted in 1996 of killing Andrew Burgess in a high-security section of the Montana State Prison.
Johnson was serving a 105-year sentence for a 1984 murder-for-hire at the time of Burgess' death.
His new attorneys did not dispute the killing occurred, but argued that Johnson's original lawyer presented no evidence about mitigating circumstances that should have been considered during sentencing.
Johnson was 1 of 3 men on death row in Montana. The 2 remaining are Ronald A. Smith and William J. Gollehon.