Roy Bruce Smith v. Ronald Angelone, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections

Affirmed by published opinion. Judge MOTZ wrote the opinion, in which Judge NIEMEYER and Judge LUTTIG joined.

OPINION

DIANA GRIBBON MOTZ, Circuit Judge:

Roy Bruce Smith was convicted of murdering Manassas Police Sergeant John Conner and sentenced to death. After unsuccessfully appealing his conviction and sentence, and pursuing a collateral attack in state court, he petitioned the district court for a writ of habeas corpus. We affirm the district court’s denial of habeas relief.

I

A Virginia jury convicted Smith of the willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of Sgt. Conner on July 24, 1988.…