The 8th U
The 8th U
1 MIN READ
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned two Missouri death sentences for Willie Simmons, saying his trial attorneys erred by not telling jurors how badly he was beaten as a child.
"In our view, had this evidence been presented, there is a reasonable probability that at least one of the jurors would have voted against the imposition of the death penalty," the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
Simmons, 38, was convicted in 1994 of the strangulation killings of Leanora McClendon, 20, whose body was found on Jan. 5, 1988, and Cheri R. Johnson, found Dec. 1, 1987. The appeals court said the state either must sentence Simmons to life in prison or hold new trials to sentence him.
"In our view, had this evidence been presented, there is a reasonable probability that at least one of the jurors would have voted against the imposition of the death penalty," the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
Simmons, 38, was convicted in 1994 of the strangulation killings of Leanora McClendon, 20, whose body was found on Jan. 5, 1988, and Cheri R. Johnson, found Dec. 1, 1987. The appeals court said the state either must sentence Simmons to life in prison or hold new trials to sentence him.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Associated Press, 14/08/2002)
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