Nelson v. Zant

Bell, Justice.

Gary Nelson appeals from the denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Nelson’s conviction and death sentence originally were affirmed by this court on direct appeal in Nelson v. State, 247 Ga. 172 (274 SE2d 317) (1981). As noted in the opinion, the conviction was based upon circumstantial evidence: A ten-year-old friend of the victim saw the victim at Nelson’s residence shortly before the victim was murdered; a hair found on the victim was consistent with that of Nelson; a knife found near the scene could have been in Nelson’s possession. Soon after our original…