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Thread: Robert Steven Wharton - Pennsylvania Death Row

  1. #1
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    Robert Steven Wharton - Pennsylvania Death Row



    Bradley Hart and his wife Fern




    Facts of the Crime:

    The murders of Bradley Hart and his wife Fern were the culmination of a series of crimes committed by Wharton and his cohorts against the Hart family in retribution for a dispute over the quality of home improvement work Wharton performed in the summer of 1983 at the Harts’ residence and at a radio station owned by Mr. Hart’s father, the Reverend Samuel Hart. When Mr. Hart refused to pay Wharton’s employer for the work, Wharton complained bitterly and blamed Bradley Hart for his lost wages. He vowed to make the Hart family pay.

    Wharton was sentenced to death in Philadelphia County on July 5, 1985.

  2. #2
    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    On December 3, 2001, Wharton filed a habeas petition in Federal District Court.

    http://dockets.justia.com/docket/pen...cv06049/24617/

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    On August 16, 2012, the Federal District Court DENIED Wharton's habeas petition.

    http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documen...s/12D0822P.pdf

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    Senior Member Frequent Poster Shep3's Avatar
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    11 years what the crap?

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    Senior Member Frequent Poster Fact's Avatar
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    The habeas petition he filed in 2001 was likely a stall tactic. His case has taken a rather circuitous route through the state courts, which is unusual for Pennsylvania.

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    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    Not that it comes anywhere close to fully explaining the elapsing of eleven years without a decision, but there appears to have been at least one change in federal judges over the course of the habeas petition.

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    Senior Member Frequent Poster Shep3's Avatar
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    Will the 3rd Circuit take as long or will it be quicker in deciding it?

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    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    Quicker. Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal don't usually take more than a couple of years to decide on habeas petition appeals. The lengthy, often inexplicable delays usually come at the Federal District Court level.

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    Even that can be iffy depending on the case law involved. The Third Circuit is also very good at reversing and remanding. Hopefully the fact that this guy only got a certificate of appealability on one issue counts for something.

  10. #10
    Administrator Michael's Avatar
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    Itīs Pennsylvania.... just wasted time and money.
    No murder can be so cruel that there are not still useful imbeciles who do gloss over the murderer and apologize.

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