Cuevas v. State

Petitioner appeals from an order denying her application for postconviction relief. On appeal, petitioner asserts 1) that she has shown a sufficient reason for her failure to raise her claim in a prior proceeding and 2) the imposition of a life sentence constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment. We affirm.

Petitioner Mary Ellis Cuevas was convicted of murder in the first degree for her part in the murder of George Weeks. The conviction was based on evidence which showed she aided and abetted in an attempted burglary during which Weeks was killed.

The evidence…