United States Sixth Circuit

Denial of habeas relief in a death penalty case is affirmed over claims of error regarding: 1) whether sufficient evidence supported defendant's kidnapping capital specification and separate kidnapping conviction; 2) whether his counsel provided ineffective assistance at the mitigation phase; 3) whether the trial judge gave improper "acquittal-first" jury instructions; and 4) whether certain of the prosecutor's statements made during the penalty phase amounted to prosecutorial misconduct.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/10/2007
• Published 07/10/2007

Judges

• Before:  DAUGHTREY, CLAY, and GILMAN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Sixth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  David C. Stebbins, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant.   Daniel R. Ranke, Office of the Attorney General, Cleveland, Ohio, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  David C. Stebbins, Columbus, Ohio, Michael J. Benza, Cleveland, Ohio, for Appellant.  Daniel R. Ranke, Office of the Attorney General, Cleveland, Ohio, for Appellee.