Mazzan v. Warden, Ely State Prison

OPINION

In 1979, appellant John Francis Mazzan was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in the Second Judicial District Court. The state’s theory was that he stabbed Richard Minor to death in Minor’s home and then took money and drugs from the home. On appeal, this court affirmed Mazzan’s conviction but reversed his sentence. Mazzan v. State (Mazzan I), 100 Nev. 74, 675 P.2d 409 (1984). After a second penalty hearing, Mazzan again received the death penalty, and this court affirmed that sentence on the second appeal. Mazzan v. State (Mazzan II), 103 Nev. 69, 733 P.2d 850…