Smith v. Wilson

Fletcher, Presiding Justice.

Robert R. Wilson filed a petition for the writ of habeas corpus challenging five life sentences imposed on counts for which he waived indictment and pled guilty. The habeas court ruled that the trial court did not have authority to impose a life sentence without a formal indictment and that Wilson was denied effective assistance of counsel because his attorney had no time to prepare for trial. Because the trial court had authority to impose the life sentences and Wilson failed to show that his trial counsel performed deficiently or prejudicially, we reverse the…