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Thread: Charles Ray Crawford - Mississippi Death Row

  1. #31
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    Miss. death row inmate challenges rape conviction

    By JACK ELLIOTT, JR.
    The Associated Press

    JACKSON, Miss. — Attorneys for death row inmate Charles Ray Crawford are arguing the man's 1994 rape conviction should be tossed out because he received poor legal representation at his trial. The result of the appeal could mean the difference between life and death for Crawford.

    According to his lawyers, Crawford could get off death row — where he now resides on an unrelated murder conviction — if his appeal in the rape case is successful.

    Crawford was arrested in 1992 for rape and aggravated assault. While free on bond, he was arrested for murder in the death of a young woman. He was convicted of rape in 1993 and sentenced to 66 years in prison. He was then found guilty of murder in 1994 and sentenced to death. Prosecutors had argued for the death penalty, saying it was justified because Crawford's past as a rapist constituted an aggravated factor and called for the harshest of punishments.

    Crawford is now appealing the rape conviction. His lawyers say he received inadequate counsel during the trial.

    The state Supreme Court says it will not set an execution date for the murder until the rape appeal is resolved. Crawford's lawyers filed a brief in the appeal July 25. Attorney General Jim Hood has 30 days from that date to respond.

    If the Supreme Court upholds Crawford's conviction in the earlier case, Hood could again petition the court to set an execution date. Crawford's lawyers argue that the death sentence would be negated if the conviction is reversed.

    Few details of the rape conviction are discussed in earlier briefs in the death penalty case. Crawford, now 48, was sentenced to death in the killing of Northeast Mississippi Community College student Kristy Ray in rural Tippah County.

    Glenn Swartzfager, Crawford's lawyer, argued in the July 25 filing that there were numerous errors in Crawford's rape trial including poor performance by the defense, prosecutorial misconduct and questionable rulings and jury instructions from the trial judge.

    "A more error-ridden case may never have come before this court," Swartzfager wrote in the brief to the Supreme Court.

    "Mr. Crawford is not asserting the right to a perfect trial, though the trial he received was far from perfect, but he is asserting his right to a trial which had some chance of providing the reliability demanded by the United States and Mississippi constitutions," Swartzfager wrote.

    http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/ne...on-5678515.php

  2. #32
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    State of Miss. wants rape conviction appeal tossed

    The attorney general's office is asking the Mississippi Supreme Court to throw out a death row inmate's appeal of his 1994 rape conviction.

    Charles Ray Crawford, 48, is on death row for the 1992 slaying of Kristy Ray in the Chalybeate community in Tippah County.

    In his appeal, Crawford says he received ineffective counsel to defend himself against the rape charges, which were used by prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Few details of the rape conviction are discussed in earlier briefs in the death penalty case.

    The attorney general argues in documents filed Monday that Crawford got a fair trial and that if there was any error, it was Crawford's for waiting 20 years to file an appeal.

    "The delay in Crawford appealing this particular conviction rests solely at the feet of he and his various attorneys," Special Assistant Attorney General Stephanie B. Wood said. "There is no case law which establishes that this case should be reversed and remanded solely based on the delay. No reversible errors were committed during the trial."

    Crawford argues that the 1994 rape conviction should be tossed out because he received poor legal representation at his trial. The result of the appeal could mean the difference between life and death for Crawford.

    Crawford was arrested in 1992 and accused of rape and aggravated assault. While free on bond, he was arrested on murder charges in the death of a young woman. He was convicted of rape in 1993 and sentenced to 66 years in prison. He was then found guilty of murder in 1994 and sentenced to death. Prosecutors had argued for the death penalty, saying it was justified because Crawford's past as a rapist constituted an aggravated factor and called for the harshest of punishments.

    Glenn Swartzfager, Crawford's lawyer, has argued there were numerous errors in Crawford's rape trial including poor performance by the defense, prosecutorial misconduct, and questionable rulings and jury instructions from the trial judge.

    "A more error-ridden case may never have come before this court," Swartzfager wrote in the brief to the Supreme Court.

    "Mr. Crawford is not asserting the right to a perfect trial, though the trial he received was far from perfect, but he is asserting his right to a trial which had some chance of providing the reliability demanded by the United States and Mississippi constitutions," Swartzfager wrote.

    http://www.sunherald.com/2014/10/13/...#storylink=cpy
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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  3. #33
    Senior Member Member George's Avatar
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    Mississippi Supreme Court won't toss rape conviction appeal of death row inmate

    The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied a prosecutor's motion to throw out a death row inmate's appeal of his 1994 rape conviction.

    Charles Ray Crawford, 48, is on death row for the 1992 slaying of Kristy Ray in the Chalybeate community in Tippah County.

    In his appeal, Crawford says he received ineffective counsel to defend himself against the rape charges, which were used by prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Few details of the rape conviction are discussed in earlier briefs in the death penalty case.

    The attorney general's office argued in requesting the dismissal that Crawford got a fair trial and that if there was any error, it was Crawford's for waiting 20 years to file an appeal.

    The Supreme Court denied the motion Thursday without comment.

    http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi...rt_wont_3.html

  4. #34
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    Mississippi Supreme Court to hear arguments March 23 in death row inmate's appeal

    By JACK ELLIOTT, JR.
    The Associated Press

    JACKSON, Mississippi — Attorneys for death row inmate Charles Ray Crawford will argue before the Mississippi Supreme Court March 23 that the man's 1994 rape conviction should be tossed out because he received poor legal representation at his trial.

    The result of the appeal could mean the difference between life and death for Crawford.

    Crawford, now 49, is on death row for the 1992 slaying of Kristy Ray in the Chalybeate community in Tippah County. Crawford argues he received ineffective counsel to defend himself against the rape charges, which were used by prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Few details of the rape conviction are discussed in earlier briefs in the death penalty case.

    The Supreme Court refused in December to throw out Crawford's appeal of his 1994 rape conviction. Prosecutors had argued in requesting the dismissal that Crawford got a fair trial and that if there was any error, it was Crawford's for waiting 20 years to file an appeal.

    Glenn Swartzfager, Crawford's lawyer, has argued there were numerous errors in Crawford's rape trial including poor performance by the defense, prosecutorial misconduct, and questionable rulings and jury instructions from the trial judge.

    "A more error-ridden case may never have come before this court," Swartzfager wrote in the brief to the Supreme Court.

    Crawford was arrested in 1992 and charged with rape and aggravated assault. While free on bond, he was arrested on murder charges in the death of a young woman. He was convicted of rape in 1993 and sentenced to 66 years in prison. He was then found guilty of murder in 1994 and sentenced to death. Prosecutors had argued for the death penalty, saying it was justified because Crawford's past as a rapist constituted an aggravated factor and called for the harshest of punishments.

    According to his lawyers, Crawford could get off death row — where he now resides on the unrelated murder conviction — if his appeal in the rape case is successful.

    The Supreme Court said it would not set an execution date for the murder until the rape appeal is resolved.

    If the Supreme Court upholds Crawford's conviction in the rape case, Attorney General Jim Hood could again petition the court to set an execution date. Crawford's lawyers argue that the death sentence would be negated if the conviction is reversed.

    In 1993, Crawford was out on bond awaiting trial on charges of aggravated assault and rape. Four days before his trial, the 20-year-old Ray, a student at Northeast Mississippi Community College, was abducted from her parents' home in Chalybeate.

    After his family and attorney notified police that they feared Crawford was committing another crime, he was arrested. Crawford told authorities he did not remember the incident but later led them to Ray's body, buried in leaves in a wooded area.

    http://www.therepublic.com/view/stor...ape-Conviction

  5. #35
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Mississippi court hears arguments in rape conviction appeal

    The attorney for death row inmate Charles Ray Crawford argued Monday before the Mississippi Supreme Court that the man's 1994 rape conviction should be tossed because he received poor legal representation at his trial.

    Defense attorney Glenn Swartzfager told the justices there were numerous errors in Crawford's rape trial including poor performance by the defense, prosecutorial misconduct and questionable rulings and jury instructions from the trial judge. He said Crawford's trial lawyer failed to challenge jury instructions and failed to object to inadmissible testimony and prejudicial prosecutorial comments.

    Crawford, now 49, is on death row for the 1992 slaying of Kristy Ray in the Chalybeate (kuh-LEE-be-ut) community in Tippah County. Crawford argues he received ineffective defense counsel to fight the rape charge, which was used by prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

    Prosecutors argued Crawford got a fair trial and that if there was any error, it was Crawford's for waiting 20 years to file an appeal.

    Assistant Attorney General Scott Stuart told the justices there was sufficient evidence to support the verdict. He said the court record shows there was no error at the trial and at no point before or during trial that Crawford was not represented by counsel.

    Crawford was arrested in 1992 and charged with rape and aggravated assault. While free on bond, he was arrested and charged with murder in the death of a young woman. He was convicted of rape in 1993 and sentenced to 66 years in prison. He was then found guilty of murder in 1994 and sentenced to death. Prosecutors had argued the death penalty was justified because Crawford's past as a rapist constituted an aggravated factor and called for the harshest of punishments.

    According to his lawyers, Crawford could get off death row — where he now resides on the unrelated capital murder conviction — if his appeal in the rape case is successful.

    The Supreme Court has said it will not set an execution date for the murder until the rape appeal is resolved.

    If the Supreme Court upholds Crawford's conviction in the rape case, Attorney General Jim Hood could petition the court to set an execution date. Crawford's lawyers argued the death sentence would be negated if the conviction is reversed.

    In 1993, Crawford was out on bond awaiting trial on charges of aggravated assault and rape. Four days before his trial, the 20-year-old Ray, a student at Northeast Mississippi Community College, was abducted from her parents' home.

    After his family and attorney notified police that they feared Crawford was committing another crime, he was arrested. Crawford told authorities he did not remember the incident but later led them to Ray's body, buried in leaves in a wooded area.

    http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/23/...#storylink=cpy
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

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

  6. #36
    Moderator Ryan's Avatar
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    Supreme Court lets death row inmate's rape conviction stand

    JACKS0N, MISS. — A Mississippi death row inmate has lost his appeal of a rape conviction that was later used to support a capital murder conviction in a separate case.

    The Mississippi Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision Thursday, denied arguments from Charles Ray Crawford that his attorney in the rape case provided faulty legal representation at his 1994 rape trial. The court also rejected Crawford's argument that his trial lawyer failed to challenge jury instructions and failed to object to inadmissible testimony and prejudicial prosecutorial comments.

    Justice Josiah Dennis Coleman, one of four dissenting justices in the case, said there were enough errors by Crawford's trial attorney to justify a new trial in the case.

    Justice Randy Pierce, writing for the majority, said Crawford's conflict with his attorney was not such that denied him a fair trial on the rape charge.

    Crawford, now 49, is on death row for the 1992 slaying of Kristy Ray in the Chalybeate (kuh-LEE-be-ut) community in Tippah County. Crawford argued he received ineffective defense counsel to fight the rape charge, which was later used by prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

    Prosecutors argued Crawford got a fair trial and there no errors by trial counsel.

    Crawford's attorneys had hoped that overturning the rape conviction would get Crawford off death row where he now resides on the unrelated capital murder conviction.

    Attorney General Jim Hood can now petition the Supreme Court to set an execution date.

    In 1993, Crawford was out on bond awaiting trial on charges of aggravated assault and rape. Four days before his trial, the 20-year-old Ray, a student at Northeast Mississippi Community College, was abducted from her parents' home.

    After his family and attorney notified police that they feared Crawford was committing another crime, he was arrested. Crawford told authorities he did not remember the incident but later led them to Ray's body, buried in leaves in a wooded area.

    http://www.sunherald.com/2015/08/27/...arguments.html

  7. #37
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
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    Supreme Court Turns Back Tippah County Man's Request

    JACKSON, MS (WCBI) – Another legal setback for a Tippah County man already sitting on Mississippi’s death row. The Supreme Court declined to grant a new hearing for Charles Ray Crawford in connection with a 1993 rape and aggravated assault conviction. The high court rejected his appeal in August and today said it would not revisit that decision.

    http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/supre...-mans-request/
    "There is a point in the history of a society when it becomes so pathologically soft and tender that among other things it sides even with those who harm it, criminals, and does this quite seriously and honestly. Punishing somehow seems unfair to it, and it is certain that imagining ‘punishment’ and ‘being supposed to punish’ hurts it, arouses fear in it." Friedrich Nietzsche

  8. #38
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    In today's orders, the United States Supreme Court declined to review Crawford's petition for certiorari on direct appeal of his rape conviction.

    Lower Ct: Supreme Court of Mississippi
    Case Nos.: (2014-KA-00175-SCT)
    Decision Date: August 27, 2015
    Rehearing Denied: February 18, 2016

    http://www.supremecourt.gov/search.a...es/15-9425.htm

  9. #39
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
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    State's highest court denies latest appeal from Charles Ray Crawford

    JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- A Tippah County man has once again lost an attempt to have his capital murder conviction overturned.

    Charles Ray Crawford, 50, is on death row for the 1992 kidnapping and murder of Christy Ray in Tippah County.

    In his latest appeals, Crawford asked the court to allow him to get a post-conviction relief hearing.

    He claims his attornies during trial and on appeal have been ineffective in investigating his case or in working to get his convictions set aside.

    The Mississippi Supreme Court reviewed the motions in his appeal.

    On Thursday, justices ruled he had received effective legal council and dismissed the motions

    http://www.wtva.com/news/local/State..._Crawford.html
    "There is a point in the history of a society when it becomes so pathologically soft and tender that among other things it sides even with those who harm it, criminals, and does this quite seriously and honestly. Punishing somehow seems unfair to it, and it is certain that imagining ‘punishment’ and ‘being supposed to punish’ hurts it, arouses fear in it." Friedrich Nietzsche

  10. #40
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
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    Supreme Court Denies Hearing For Death Row Inmate

    A Tippah County man currently on death row will not get the chance to make another appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

    The court Thursday denied Charles Ray Crawford’s request for a rehearing on an appeal denied in August. Crawford had argued that he suffered numerous head injuries that made him legally retarded and exempt from execution. Crawford was convicted for the 1993 rape and murder of a 20 year old Northeast Mississippi Community College student

    http://www.wcbi.com/supreme-court-de...th-row-inmate/
    "There is a point in the history of a society when it becomes so pathologically soft and tender that among other things it sides even with those who harm it, criminals, and does this quite seriously and honestly. Punishing somehow seems unfair to it, and it is certain that imagining ‘punishment’ and ‘being supposed to punish’ hurts it, arouses fear in it." Friedrich Nietzsche

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