Bunton v. Atherton

BRISCOE, Chief Judge.

Petitioner Michael Bunton, a Colorado state prisoner convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, appeals the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for federal habeas relief. Exercising jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

I

Factual background

At approximately 11:15 p.m. on April 7, 1986, in a crime-ridden neighborhood of Denver known as “Five Points,” an individual named Jesse Harrington was shot once in the head at close range with a large caliber weapon. After Harrington fell to the ground, he was dragged to a…