9th Circuit Reversal #1: The 9th Circuit last week reversed the death sentence of David Scott Detrich. In 1989, Detrich sexually assaulted and stabbed to death Elizabeth Souter and dumped her body in the desert near Tucson. He was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual assault and sentenced to death. The 9th Circuit reversed, finding that Detrich's attorney provided ineffective assistance during the penalty phase of trial.
9th Circuit Reversal #2: The AP reports that the 9th Circuit today reversed the convictions of Kurt Williams Havelock, who mailed to various media outlets letters containing violent threats and describing his planned massacre at the 2008 Super Bowl. Havelock also drove to the stadium on the day of the Super Bowl armed with an assault rifle, but turned himself in before firing any shots. He was convicted in federal court of six counts of mailing threatening communications, but the 9th Circuit reversed because the letters were addressed (i.e., on the envelope) to corporations - not natural persons as required for a conviction under the statute.
CA Teen Sentenced to 159 Years for Crime Spree: A Sacramento judge on Friday sentenced Sammie Lee Nichols to a term of 159 years to life for 18 felonies Nichols committed during his teen years, reports the AP. At age 17, Nichols went on a year-long home invasion crime spree, entering female victims' homes and ordering them at gun point to withdraw money from an ATM. He also raped two of his victims. Post-Graham v. Florida, Nichols is not eligible for LWOP.
"A Conservative is a Liberal Who Got Mugged the Night Before"?: The Miami Herald (FL) reports Marleine Bastien was robbed at gunpoint while waiting in a church parking lot for a campaign event. Bastien is a Democratic candidate currently campaigning for a seat in the House.
9th Circuit Reversal #2: The AP reports that the 9th Circuit today reversed the convictions of Kurt Williams Havelock, who mailed to various media outlets letters containing violent threats and describing his planned massacre at the 2008 Super Bowl. Havelock also drove to the stadium on the day of the Super Bowl armed with an assault rifle, but turned himself in before firing any shots. He was convicted in federal court of six counts of mailing threatening communications, but the 9th Circuit reversed because the letters were addressed (i.e., on the envelope) to corporations - not natural persons as required for a conviction under the statute.
CA Teen Sentenced to 159 Years for Crime Spree: A Sacramento judge on Friday sentenced Sammie Lee Nichols to a term of 159 years to life for 18 felonies Nichols committed during his teen years, reports the AP. At age 17, Nichols went on a year-long home invasion crime spree, entering female victims' homes and ordering them at gun point to withdraw money from an ATM. He also raped two of his victims. Post-Graham v. Florida, Nichols is not eligible for LWOP.
"A Conservative is a Liberal Who Got Mugged the Night Before"?: The Miami Herald (FL) reports Marleine Bastien was robbed at gunpoint while waiting in a church parking lot for a campaign event. Bastien is a Democratic candidate currently campaigning for a seat in the House.
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