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Thread: Larry Reynolds Smith - Alabama

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    Larry Reynolds Smith - Alabama



    Summary of Offense:

    Sentenced to death in 1996 for the robbery and murder of Dennis Harris on September 23, 1994.

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    MONTGOMERY -- A state appeals court today agreed with a Marshall County judge that a man sentenced to death in 1994 deserves a new trial because his lawyer was ineffective.

    Larry Reynolds Smith was convicted of capital murder in August 1996, and his conviction and sentenced was affirmed by the Alabama Supreme Court on Jan. 8, 1999.

    But Smith continued to appeal on grounds that his lawyer did a poor job in defending him. Following a hearing on Nov. 6, 2006, the Marshall County Circuit Court granted Smith a new trial on Jan. 12, 2007, but the state appealed.

    Smith was convicted in the Sept. 23, 1994 robbery and shooting death of Dennis Harris, identified at his trial as a friend.

    Harris disappeared and his decomposed body, decapitated by a shotgun blast, was found Oct. 3, 1994.

    In agreeing that Smith deserved a new trial, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals said his lawyer was inexperienced in capital murder cases and the lawyer's "performance was deficient in the investigation and the presentation of Smith's defense at the guilt phase of Smith's trial."

    With an experienced attorney, "the outcome of Mr. Smith's might well have been different," the appeals court wrote.


    http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/10/...rders_new.html

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    Marshall County man on death row for murder awarded new trial

    A man sitting on death row for a murder nearly 20 years ago may soon be on his way back to Marshall County.

    Larry Smith has been awarded a new trial.

    The Alabama Supreme Court recently ruled with lower courts that the death row inmate received ineffective counsel, so now the case appears to be coming back.

    Holman Prison inmate, 41-year-old Larry Reynold Smith is getting a new trial after a recent ruling by the state's high court.

    He was convicted in 1996 for the 1994 robbery and shooting death of Dennis Harris.

    Investigators said Harris's body was found by coon hunters decomposed and decapitated off Teal Road.

    Now, prosecutors must prepare to put together a case against Smith 18 years after the murder because the high court found Smith's legal defense was ineffective.

    "The court determined that constitutionally the representation was defective. It doesn't mean necessarily that the defendant is not guilty, but it's saying at least for purposes of the constitution the defendant was entitled to a new trial," said Marshall County District Attorney, Steve Marshall.

    The state could seek a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court but Marshall says they don't have to hear it.

    The defense will have to round up all the evidence and witnesses, and that's not easy to do after such a period of time.

    WAFF 48 News also spoke with one man who knew those involved and feels the wrong guy was convicted.

    Jason Maples feels he could have been the one shot instead of Harris. An original witness in the case, Maples said it was a friend of Harris's that threatened him with the very same murder weapon a week before Harris was murdered.

    "Larry said, ‘No, that's my friend and you aren't touching him. Go to the next one,' and, unfortunately, that was Dennis," said Maples.

    Despite a confession by Smith, Maples believes it was, instead, the guy who threatened him who did the shooting nearly 20 years ago.

    "I believe the truth needs to come out after, what, 18 years? It needs to come out," he said.

    http://www.waff.com/story/16655425/m...rded-new-trial

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    Death row inmate to be released from prison

    A Marshall County man on death row will soon be released from prison after he made a plea agreement.

    Larry Smith was convicted in 1996 for the 1994 robbery and shooting death of Dennis Harris. Investigators said Harris's body was found by coon hunters decomposed and decapitated off Teal Road.

    Smith's capital murder case was dismissed Friday. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree robbery. He was sentenced to time served, which is 17 years and five months.

    He is expected to be released Friday.

    As a condition of the plea agreement Smith must cooperate with investigators concerning the murder.

    http://www.waff.com/story/17351139/d...ed-from-prison
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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    A Marshall County man was released from jail Friday after serving more than 17 years in prison. Larry Smith was on Alabama’s death row for capital murder. His mother, Sherry Miller, hugged him as he walked out of the Sheriff’s Office. Other friends and relatives also waited to greet him. Here are more details on Smith’s release.

    Larry Smith in handcuffs for the last time, as he leaves the Marshall County Courthouse for his discharge at the jail (WHNT)





    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

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