State v. Downs

We are asked to decide whether appellant, who has been sentenced to die for murder, is mentally competent to waive his right to challenge his conviction and death sentence and be executed. We conclude appellant is competent.

PROCEDURAL FACTS

Appellant pled guilty to the crimes of murder, kidnapping, and criminal sexual conduct with a minor. A hearing was then held to determine whether he was guilty but mentally ill (GBMI). An expert, Dr. Everett Kuglar, testified appellant was mentally ill. However, two other experts, Dr. Jeffrey Musick and Dr. Pamela Crawford, testified appellant was not…