D.R. writing from West Virginia
“With over 25 years of protestations being ignored and circumvented, I’m just dumbfounded.”
Location
Fayette County, WV
Crime of Conviction
First degree murder
Year of Conviction
1998
D.R. was convicted of first degree murder in 1998 and sentenced to life without parole. He writes that the investigation of the crime was tainted by police misconduct and due process violations, and that his trial was made unfair by judicial interference with his right to represent himself. He explains that his case originally began in Ohio, but was later transferred to West Virginia, and that the two states acted as a 'tag team' unlawfully. He also writes that the judge in his case did not allow him to represent himself, despite his claims that his court-appointed counsel was acting against his interest. His state habeas petition was denied.
Procedural issues
Police misconduct, due process violation, interference with counsel rights.
Counsel
No