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Thread: Lester Harland Wilson - California Death Row

  1. #1
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    Lester Harland Wilson - California Death Row


    Lester Harland Wilson


    Facts of the Crime:

    Sentenced to death on June 29, 2000 for the June 8, 1997 torture and murder of Uwe Durbin as well as for raping the girlfriend of Durbin's brother. The court said Wilson discovered that Durbin, who had been staying in his home, had stolen his two television sets and a VCR. Wilson shot Durbin in the knee, battered him in the head with a glove filled with batteries, had friends beat and kick him for about an hour, then shot him in the head, the court said.

    Wilson was re-sentenced to death in Riverside County on November 18, 2010.

  2. #2
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Testimony to wrap up in kidnap, torture, murder case

    RIVERSIDE - Defense testimony is expected to wrap up today in the penalty retrial of a man who kidnapped, tortured and killed an acquaintance in a crime described by a judge as an act of "sadistic revenge."

    Lester Harland Wilson, 46, was convicted in June 2000 of first-degree murder, with special circumstance allegations of torture and kidnapping, in the June 8, 1997, death of Uwe Durbin. Wilson also was convicted of two counts of rape for sexually assaulting the victim's brother's wife.

    The defendant was sentenced to death, but the California Supreme Court overturned the sentence in July 2008 based on the improper dismissal of a juror during the penalty phase of Wilson's trial. A penalty retrial began Oct. 26.

    The new jury could recommend death -- again -- or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    According to court documents, Wilson and Durbin did drugs together, and the defendant let the victim stay with him and his wife, Barbara Phillips, at their Riverside home for a short time.

    When the couple's two television sets were stolen, they immediately suspected Durbin and went looking for him at his brother, Michael Durbin's, house, according to court papers.

    Wilson and Phillips abducted Michael Durbin, his wife, Lisa, and their three small children at gunpoint. They found Uwe Durbin walking in the area and grabbed him off the street, according to prosecutors.

    Evidence showed that Uwe Durbin was bound and gagged in the basement of Wilson's house, where the defendant shot him in the kneecap and beat him over the head with a gardener's glove stuffed with D-cell batteries, while Phillips held Michael and Lisa Durbin with their kids in another room.

    Wilson invited three friends to join him -- Norman Culpepper, Charone Parker and Michael Woods. All, plus Phillips, took turns beating and kicking Uwe Durbin, according to trial testimony.

    During the hours-long ordeal, Wilson managed to get Lisa Durbin alone and raped her twice.

    Uwe Durbin eventually confessed to stealing and selling the TVs. He was shot to death with a semiautomatic pistol and dumped beside the Riverside (91) Freeway.

    Michael Durbin and his wife and children were freed.

    Wilson's wife and friends were all convicted of various offenses. Phillips received a life prison term.

    Superior Court Judge Vilia Sherman described the torture and murder of Uwe Durbin as an act of "sadistic revenge" that was "senseless" and upheld a jury's death sentence recommendation.

    The California Supreme Court ruled that the judge erred in dismissing the only black person on Wilson's jury. The juror had told fellow jurors he was not going to vote for death because Wilson -- who is also black -- did not have a respectable "father figure" growing up.

    When the other 11 jurors voting for death asked the man to provide examples, he refused, according to the court.

    Sherman said she believed the juror was not performing his duties and deliberating faithfully, but the justices said she failed to realize that the juror was "merely relying on his life experiences to interpret the evidence presented."

    http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/52460/

  3. #3
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Jury recommends death for Riverside man who tortured, killed acquaintance

    A jury today recommended a death sentence for a man put on death row once before for kidnapping, torturing and killing an acquaintance.

    Lester Harland Wilson, 46, is set to be formally sentenced on Dec. 17 by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Elisabeth Sichel.

    The jury in the defendant’s penalty phase retrial deliberated less than a day before returning its recommendation. Wilson’s attorneys plan to seek a modification of the jury’s verdict and ask Sichel to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole instead.

    The defendant was previously condemned to death, but the California Supreme Court overturned the sentence in July 2008 based on the improper dismissal of a juror during the original penalty phase.

    Wilson was convicted in June 2000 of first-degree murder, with special circumstance allegations of torture and kidnapping, in the June 8, 1997, slaying of 32-year-old Uwe Durbin. He also was convicted of two counts of rape for sexually assaulting the wife of the victim’s brother.

    Wilson and Durbin ran in the same circles, and the defendant let the victim stay with him and his wife, Barbara Phillips, in return for doing repairs on the couple’s car.

    When their television/VCR unit was stolen, they immediately suspected Durbin, a sometime drug user, and went looking for him at the house of his brother, Michael Durbin, according to court papers.

    Wilson and Phillips abducted Michael Durbin, his wife, Lisa, and their three small children at gunpoint. They found Uwe Durbin walking in the area and grabbed him off the street.

    Evidence showed that Uwe Durbin was bound and gagged in the basement of Wilson’s Riverside house, where the defendant shot him in the kneecap and beat him over the head with a gardener’s glove stuffed with D-cell batteries, while Phillips held Michael and Lisa Durbin with their children in another room.

    Wilson invited three friends to join him — Norman Culpepper, Charone Parker and Michael Woods. All, plus Phillips, took turns beating and kicking Uwe Durbin, according to trial testimony.

    During the hours-long ordeal, Wilson managed to get Lisa Durbin alone and raped her twice.

    Uwe Durbin eventually confessed to stealing and selling the TV. He was shot to death with a semiautomatic pistol and dumped beside the Riverside (91) Freeway.

    Michael Durbin and his wife and children were freed.

    Wilson’s wife and friends were all convicted of various offenses. Phillips received a life prison sentence.

    Superior Court Judge Vilia Sherman described the torture and murder of Uwe Durbin as an act of “sadistic revenge” that was “senseless” and upheld a jury’s death sentence recommendation.

    The California Supreme Court ruled that the judge erred in dismissing the only black person on Wilson’s jury. The juror had told fellow panelists he was not going to vote for death because Wilson — who is also black — did not have a respectable “father figure” growing up.

    When the other 11 jurors voting for death asked the man to provide examples, he refused, according to the court.

    Sherman said she believed the juror was not performing his duties and deliberating faithfully, but the justices said she failed to realize that he was “merely relying on his life experiences to interpret the evidence presented.”

    http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-river...#ixzz16qRMAL8X

  4. #4
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Riverside man sentenced to death for 1997 torture, slaying and rape

    A Riverside man who kidnapped, tortured and killed an acquaintance for stealing his television set was sentenced to die today, heading back to death row for the second time in eight years.

    Lester Harland Wilson, 46, faces capital punishment based on a jury’s Nov. 30 recommendation, which was affirmed today by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Elisabeth Sichel.

    The defendant was previously condemned to death, but the California Supreme Court overturned that sentence in July 2008, based on the improper dismissal of a juror during the original penalty phase. His penalty retrial began in October and wrapped up late last month.

    Wilson was convicted in June 2000 of first-degree murder, with special circumstance allegations of torture and kidnapping, in the June 8, 1997, slaying of 32-year-old Uwe Durbin. He also was convicted of two counts of rape for sexually assaulting the wife of the victim’s brother.

    “In all my experience as a prosecutor, this is one of the most gruesome and heinous murder cases I’ve been involved with,” Deputy District Attorney Mike Hestrin told City News Service. “This defendant absolutely deserves the death penalty.”

    Wilson and Durbin ran in the same circles, and the defendant let the victim stay with him and his wife, Barbara Phillips, in return for doing repairs on the couple’s car.

    When their television/VCR unit was stolen, they immediately suspected Durbin, a sometime drug user, and went looking for him at his brother, Michael Durbin’s, house.

    Wilson and Phillips abducted Michael Durbin, his wife, Lisa, and their three small children at gunpoint. They found Uwe Durbin walking in the area and grabbed him off the street.

    Evidence showed that Uwe Durbin was bound and gagged in the basement of Wilson’s Riverside house, where the defendant shot him in the kneecap and beat him over the head with a gardener’s glove stuffed with D-cell batteries, while Phillips held Michael and Lisa Durbin with their children in another room.

    Wilson invited three friends to join him — Norman Culpepper, Charone Parker and Michael Woods. All, plus Phillips, took turns beating and kicking Uwe Durbin, according to trial testimony.

    During the hours-long ordeal, Wilson managed to get Lisa Durbin alone and raped her twice.

    Uwe Durbin eventually confessed to stealing and selling the TV. He was shot to death with a semiautomatic pistol and dumped beside the Riverside (91) Freeway.

    Michael Durbin and his wife and children were freed.

    Wilson’s wife and friends were all convicted of various offenses. Phillips received a life prison sentence.

    In 2000, Judge Vilia Sherman described Uwe Durbin’s torture and murder as an act of “sadistic revenge” that was “senseless” and upheld a jury’s death sentence recommendation.

    The California Supreme Court ruled that the judge erred in dismissing the only black person on Wilson’s jury. The juror had told fellow panelists he was not going to vote for death because Wilson — who is also black — did not have a respectable “father figure” growing up.

    When the other 11 jurors voting for death asked the man to provide examples, he refused, according to the court.

    Sherman said she believed the juror was not performing his duties and deliberating faithfully, but the justices said she failed to realize that he was “merely relying on his life experiences to interpret the evidence presented.”

    http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-river...#ixzz1BEUBFKQi

  5. #5
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    Wilson's direct appeal has been fully briefed before the California Supreme Court since October 22, 2015.

    http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.g...doc_no=S189373

  6. #6
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    On February 7, 2023, oral argument will be heard in Wilson's direct appeal before the California Supreme Court.

    https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/sites/...20Calendar.pdf

  7. #7
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
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    Conviction and death sentence affirmed on direct appeal 6/8/2023.

    https://law.justia.com/cases/califor...3/s189373.html
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  8. #8
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    On March 10, 2023, Wilson filed a habeas petition before the California Supreme Court.

    https://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca....tRMCAgCg%3D%3D

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