DEATH ROW
Last-ditch appeals filed for cop killer
As Houston cop killer Jeffrey Williams counts the days to his May 15 execution, his attorneys are launching a last-ditch effort to save his life by asking a federal court to reconsider claims that earlier defense lawyers botched the case.
In a petition filed with a Houston federal court late Thursday, Virginia-based lawyer Jon Sheldon asserts that Williams’ trial attorney failed to adequately investigate the case and, in the trial’s punishment phase, neglected to present testimony that would have shown that the killer — though not mentally disabled — was unable to function in society.
Yes Mr. Sheldon, you are right. Your client is not able to function in society. Society looks down on murderers. Especailly cop killers. So we will insure he will not have to attempt to function in society by eliminating him from the human gene pool.
Sheldon further argues that Williams’ court-appointed appeals lawyer not only failed to aggressively pursue the case and make an ineffective counsel claim but missed a filing deadline that led to his “cut and pasted” appeal’s rejection.
Claims fizzled
To date, Williams’ ineffective counsel claims have fizzled. Now, Sheldon hopes a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Martinez v. Ryan, will prompt the courts to take another look.
The ruling allows reconsideration of a rejected ineffective counsel claim if it is “substantial” and if it can be proved that an appeals lawyer’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. It requires proof that, had legal representation been adequate, the trial’s outcome may have been different.
Williams, 37, was represented in his February 2000 trial by veteran Houston defense lawyer Donald Davis. Months after Williams’ conviction, Davis committed suicide. Williams’ appeals attorney was Jules Laird, a former Harris County assistant district attorney.
Laird on Friday said he filed two petitions on Williams’ behalf, one dealing with constitutional issues of the killer’s initial trial, and a second asserting mental disability claims. “I talked to the family, reviewed the files and did my own investigation,” he said. “... I don’t recall filing late, but if the court says I did, I did.”
Laird said he does not remember whether he raised the issue of ineffective counsel.
I hate to say it but former prosecuters make great defense attornies. Sounds like this waste of sperm has really good council.
Williams’ legal troubles began the night of May 19, 1999, when he drove a stolen Lexus into the parking lot of a motel in the 6800 block of the Southwest Freeway. He was spotted by Troy Blando, 39, a plainclothes Houston police officer assigned to the auto theft detail.
Self-defense claimed
Confirming the car had been stolen, Blando attempted to make an arrest. Williams struggled. As Blando cuffed one of the man’s hands, Williams pulled a pistol and fired a fatal shot. The killer still wore the handcuffs when he was arrested.
Williams claimed he thought Blando was a robber and that he fired in self-defense. Williams, who is black, also said Blando, who was white, addressed him with a vulgar racial term...
Yea Jeff, all robbers identify themselves as police and carry handcuffs. You know something that is really vulgar there Jeff. Murdering another man.
You know what's kinda funny. These big and bad s%^&heads are not so big and bad when the time comes. They ain't so big and bad when the door opens and they cower in the corner screaming "you ain't taking me!!!!!" Then an extraction team goes in, kicks their asses and then actually patches up any injuries. Then they strap him down to the gurney, bring him to the chamber and the needles are put in. And he is put down like the animal he is .
God be with you Jeff. If justice is served on May 15th, you will face a judge you cannot lie to and cannot appeal from.
RIP Officer Troy Blando.
Good post
ReplyDeleteThank you...
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