Rutland v. State

Chief Justice, PLEICONES.

Petitioner was convicted of murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, and pointing a firearm. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. This Court affirmed petitioner’s convictions and sentences on direct appeal. State v. Rutland, Op. No. 95-MO-263 (S.C. Sup.Ct. filed Aug. 25,1995).

Petitioner filed a post-conviction relief (“PCR”) action, 1 and sought certiorari to review the PCR judge’s order denying relief. We granted the petition for a writ of certiorari on two issues: (1) whether the PCR judge erred in finding trial…