Robinson v. Beard

After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first degree murder, attempted criminal homicide, and related offenses. The trial court imposed upon Appellant a death sentence for the murder conviction. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed Appellant’s conviction and sentence. Appellant later filed a petition for writ of habeas corps in the United States District Court asserting, among other claims, that (1) the state trial court violated his due process rights when it declined to instruct the jury, pursuant to Simmons v. South Carolina, that Appellant was ineligible for parole; and (2) there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that the “grave risk” aggravating circumstance applied, and the trial court improperly instructed the jury with regard to this aggravating circumstance. The Third Circuit affirmed, holding (1) the trial court did not err in declining to give a Simmons instruction; and (2) there was sufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding of the “grave risk” aggravating circumstance, and the trial court did not err when it provided instructions to the jury on the “grave risk” aggravating circumstance. View "Robinson v. Beard" on Justia Law