High court: Prisoner can appeal after mailroom mistake
January 18th, 2012
10:23 AM ET

High court: Prisoner can appeal after mailroom mistake

The U.S. Supreme Court has given an Alabama death row prisoner another chance to appeal his conviction after a mailroom mistake initially left him unable to pursue further claims in court.

Cory Maples' case now goes back to lower courts.

Maples was convicted in the 1995 murder of two companions, Stacy Alan Terry and Barry Dewayne Robinson II, with whom he had been drinking heavily. Court records showed that Maples took a .22-caliber rifle in his Decatur, Alabama, home and shot both men twice in the head, execution-style. He later confessed to police but offered no explanation for the crimes. The defendant was convicted, and the jury recommended the death sentence by a vote of 10-2.

FULL STORY
Post by:
Filed under: Alabama • Courts • Crime • Death Penalty • Justice • Supreme Court
soundoff (10 Responses)
  1. Jazzy

    Good to know if this were an innocent man his rights would have been protected.

    January 18, 2012 at 11:00 am | Report abuse |
  2. Joey Isotta-Fraschini©™

    I don't know this case at all, but for anybody, guilty or innocent, to be denied an appeal of a death sentence because of the mails is ridiculous.

    January 18, 2012 at 11:03 am | Report abuse |
    • Bria

      As i recall there was no appeal for Stacy and Dewayne. He took their right to fight to stay alive. Just sayin...RIP STACY AKA TWINKIE and DEWAYNE.

      February 9, 2012 at 9:07 am | Report abuse |
  3. Icey

    You've denied an apeal hearing because the As in the Bs!! Makes a lot of since the guys already incarcerated, one little mail mistake? And now they will paddle his backside

    January 18, 2012 at 11:55 am | Report abuse |
  4. banasy©

    He'll get his appeal.
    Not a new trial, as he was seeking.

    January 18, 2012 at 11:59 am | Report abuse |
  5. fernace

    He confessed, why is he appealing? Does he prefer life in prison to quick dispatch? He's probably scared of meeting up w/his buds on "the other side", who HE dispatched for no seeming reason! Well, the prison sc.rewed up must set it right, but this dude doesn't need any favors!!

    January 18, 2012 at 12:05 pm | Report abuse |
  6. banasy©

    Hi fernace.
    He sobered up.

    January 18, 2012 at 12:13 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Cesar The Chorizo Champ of Chihuahua

    You can get anything copyrighted by sending it to yourself through the mail.

    January 18, 2012 at 3:38 pm | Report abuse |
  8. rooney©

    It's only fair to give him another chance to appeal as there was a mistake. Though, it doesn't seem like he deserves to have his conviction overturned.

    January 18, 2012 at 6:18 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Candice

    I know the feeling, sometimes nieghbors just don't know when to leave.

    January 18, 2012 at 7:50 pm | Report abuse |
« Back to main