The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Fernando Belmontes' death sentence

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Fernando Belmontes' death sentence for the third time in the death of a 19-year-old woman, Steacy McConnell, during a March 15, 1981 burglary, saying his lawyer failed to present evidence that might have led jurors to a less severe sentence. That information included details about Belmontes' violent home life as a child and how that might have contributed to his criminal behavior. Two previous rulings by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that would have granted Belmontes a new penalty trial on other grounds were both overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court returned the case to the appellate panel on November 13, 2006 (see) to consider other issues the defense raised, including the claim that Belmontes' trial lawyer represented him incompetently. Belmontes is now 47. (see also July 15, 2003, July 15, 2005, November 13, 2006)