Wharton v. Vaughn

At trial, the prosecution introduced Wharton's confession, and other compelling evidence such as the victim's property being found in Wharton's possession. The jury convicted Wharton of both murders and, following the separate penalty phase, returned a verdict of death. Wharton, 722 F. App'x at 271.

Wharton appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which, in 1992, affirmed the conviction but reversed the death sentence, due to a defect in the jury charge. In a second penalty hearing held later that year, another jury returned a verdict of death. Wharton appealed again, but this time, in…