Full title: WALTER HILL, PETITIONER-APPELLANT, v. RONALD E. JONES, COMMISSIONER…
Court: United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
No. 94-6793.
Date published: Apr 9, 1996
Fact:
- Walter Hill was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of Willie Mae Hammock, John Tatum, and Lois Tatum in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 1977.
- Hill had a history of criminal offenses, including a prior conviction for murder and other violent felonies.
- The murders occurred following a dispute over Hill’s romantic interest in Toni Hammock and her refusal to go with him to California.
- Hill’s case involved multiple legal proceedings, including trials and appeals, spanning several years.
Issue:
- The main issue in the case revolves around whether Hill received effective assistance of counsel during his trial and subsequent legal proceedings.
- Hill raised claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, alleging that his attorneys failed to conduct an adequate investigation, object to errors, and present mitigating evidence during sentencing.
- Another issue is whether Hill’s claims were procedurally defaulted under Alabama law, which limited his ability to raise certain issues in later proceedings if they were not raised in earlier ones.
CONCLUSION:
We have carefully reviewed the records and briefs of the parties. We are satisfied the district court did not err in dismissing Hill’s claims and denying the petition.
AFFIRMED.