Abdool v. State
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder. The jury recommended death by a vote of ten to two. The trial court followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Defendant to death. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. Defendant later filed a motion for postconviction relief. The circuit court denied relief on all claims following an evidentiary hearing. Defendant appealed the denial of postconviction relief and also petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of habeas corpus. The Supreme Court affirmed the denial of postconviction relief but vacated the death sentence, holding (1) the circuit court correctly denied relief on Defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims; (2) appellate counsel did not provide ineffective assistance; and (3) Defendant’s death sentence violated Hurst v. State, and the Hurst error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Remanded for a new penalty phase.
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