United States Ninth Circuit

Reversing a denial of habeas relief where a convicted murderer asserted ineffective assistance of counsel at his resentencing. The petitioner asserted that his counsel failed to challenge evidence that the murder was done for pecuniary gain, rather than love or infatuation for a paramour, and also failed to conduct an adequate investigation of mitigating factors. In reversing, the Ninth Circuit held that, if not for counsel's errors, it was reasonably likely that the result would have been different because this was a relatively weak case for imposition of the death penalty.

Appellate Information

• Published 2018/07/11

Judges

• Nguyen

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel