Butler v. State

ORDER

Petitioner, a death row inmate, seeks a writ of habeas corpus. After careful consideration of the important issues raised by his petition, and in light of the unique circumstances involved in this matter, we grant the writ.

Petitioner’s conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal. State v. Butler, 277 S.C. 452, 290 S.E. (2d) (1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 932, 103 S. Ct. 242, 74 L. Ed. (2d) 191 (1983). Three years later we affirmed the denial of petitioner’s request for post-conviction relief. Butler v. State, 286 S.C. 441, 334 S.E. (2d) 813 (1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1094,…