William Lovelle Stringer v. Paul Hedgepeth, William Lovelle Stringer v. Paul Hedgepeth

HEANEY, Circuit Judge.

The State of Iowa appeals from the order of the district court granting William Lovelle Stringer’s petition for habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Stringer is serving a life sentence for murder. We reverse the district court’s grant of habeas relief.

I. BACKGROUND

On November 4, 1986, an intruder armed with a sawed-off shotgun broke through the front door of a home occupied by Lyn Ballard, Kevin Colburn, and Jim Clay. The intruder was an African-American male wearing makeup on his face, a stocking cap, a black coat, and black pants. He also had a nylon pulled…