Black v. State

LONG, Presiding Judge.

The appellant, Thomas A. Black, was convicted of sodomy in the first degree, rape in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, and robbery in the first degree. He was sentenced, pursuant to the Habitual Felony Offender Act, to four consecutive terms of life imprisonment. His convictions were affirmed on direct appeal. Black v. State, 689 So.2d 1009 (Ala.Cr.App.1996) (table).

On December 30, 1996, Black filed a postconviction petition pursuant to Rule 32, Ala.R.Crim.P., attacking his convictions based on numerous claims of ineffective assistance of trial and…