A federal judge in North Dakota is urging lawyers on both sides of a death penalty case to narrow down issues in order to avoid “an endless parade” of hearings.
Linda Walker, Sjodin’s mother, says she expects Rodriguez to exhaust all his options, but it’s disheartening to “hear the excuses.”
Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., of Crookston, Minn., is facing execution for the 2003 killing of University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin (shuh-DEEN’), of Pequot Lakes, Minn. Defense attorneys have filed a habeas corpus motion, considered the last step in the appeals process.
Judge Ralph Erickson on Monday set a July 2 date for prosecutors to file their response to the motion. The 298-page defense document claims, among other things, that Rodriguez was mentally disabled and his trial team was ineffective.
Linda Walker, Sjodin’s mother, says she expects Rodriguez to exhaust all his options, but it’s disheartening to “hear the excuses.”
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f1942a4d5c88403783fb31a00a1e6302/ND–Slain-Student-Appeal/
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