Mo. court overturns death penalty for 2002 slaying
Court Alerts
The Missouri Supreme Court overturned a man's death sentence Tuesday because his attorney failed to question the character of a murder victim who had child pornography on his computer.
The high court acknowledged in its unanimous ruling that character evidence about murder victims typically is barred. But when relatives of victim Ralph Lape Jr. testified about his generous character during the sentencing phase of Mark Gill's murder trial, defense attorneys should have countered by highlighting the smut on Lape's computer, the Supreme Court said.
Had Gill's attorneys done so, the Supreme Court said, jurors may have been less inclined to sentence him to death for the July 2002 kidnapping, robbery and shooting. The Supreme Court sent the case back to a lower court for a new sentencing hearing.
Cape Girardeau County Prosecutor Morley Swingle said he would again seek the death penalty for Gill.
Related listings
-
Court won't revive student's suit over grad speech
Court Alerts 12/01/2009The Supreme Court won't revive a student's lawsuit against a school that punished her for talking about her religion during her high school graduation speech.The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Erica Corder. She was punished for h...
-
Walker gets pay plan for casino debt
Court Alerts 11/30/2009Former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker is promising to pay more than $900,000 to settle bad check charges with three Las Vegas casinos and avoid felony criminal charges.Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melanie Andress-Tobiasson approved a deal Monday letti...
-
Court to consider beach dispute issue
Court Alerts 11/30/2009A dispute over a beach renourishment project along a 6.9-mile stretch in the Florida Panhandle has become the latest property rights case taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court.The question comes down to who has rights when a state adds tons of sand to a...
New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.