Head v. Thomason

Benham, Justice.

Gary Chad Thomason is a burglar who shot and killed the homeowner who came upon him while he was burglarizing the victim’s home. In a bench trial, he was convicted of malice murder, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and was sentenced to death. After affirmance by this Court of that conviction and sentence (Thomason v. State, 268 Ga. 298 (486 SE2d 861) (1997)), he filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. His petition was denied on all grounds save one — that he was not afforded the effective assistance of counsel during the sentencing phase of his…