Provenzano v. Singletary

CARNES, Circuit Judge:

Thomas H. Provenzano, a Florida death row inmate, appeals from the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition for habeas relief from his murder conviction and death sentence. The facts relevant to the crime and the evidence at trial are set out in the Florida Supreme Court’s decision affirming the conviction and sentence on direct appeal. See Provenzano v. State, 497 So.2d 1177, 1179-85 (Fla.1986). On April 20, 1987, the Supreme Court denied certiorari, 481 U.S. 1024, 107 S.Ct. 1912, 95 L.Ed.2d 518, thus ending the direct review process.

Provenzano’s initial…