Williams v. Ozmint

Chief Justice TOAL:

Petitioner Luke A. Williams was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Petitioner has exhausted his appeals and now seeks a writ of habeas corpus from this Court based on our decision in State v. Northcutt, 372 S.C. 207, 641 S.E.2d 873 (2007).

Factual/Procedural Background

In 1993, a jury found Petitioner guilty of the murders of his wife and son. During the sentencing phase, the solicitor stated three times that he “expected” the death penalty. Defense counsel did not object, and the jury sentenced Petitioner to death.

Petitioner’s convictions and sentences were affirmed…