United States Third Circuit
Saranchak v. Beard, 08-9000
A partial grant of defendant's petition for habeas relief from the first degree murder conviction of his grandmother and uncle and a sentence of death is reversed where: 1) the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's rejection of the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel regarding the counsel's failure seek suppression of certain statements was not an unreasonable application of, or contrary to, clearly established federal law; 2) defendant failed to establish a reasonable probability that, but for the admission of his statements to the state police, the result of the proceeding would have been different; 3) defendant failed to establish a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors in failing to investigate and present a proper diminished capacity defense, he would not have been convicted of first degree murder; and 4) defendant failed to show that he is "in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States."
Appellate Information
- Argued 10/14/2009
- Decided 08/03/2010
- Published 08/03/2010
Judges
Court
- United States Third Circuit
Counsel
- For Appellant:
- Matthew C. Lawry, James P. Barker