Kansas' Topeka Capital-Journal reports, "Schmidt appeals decision to overturn death penalty."
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Thursday announced he is appealing a decision by the Kansas Supreme Court to overturn a death penalty conviction.
The court in August ordered a new trial for Scott Cheever, who was convicted in the 2005 murder of Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels.
Cheever received the death sentence in October 2007. The state’s high court said Cheever’s 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination was violated by the testimony of a state psychiatrist, reversing the capital murder conviction, as well as four other convictions of attempted capital murder on four other law officers involved in Cheever’s arrest.
Schmidt’s appeal to uphold both the convictions and death sentence is to the U.S. Supreme Court.
From Colorado, "Sources: Aurora theater shooting suspect injured self by ramming head into cell wall," is Jessica Fender's Denver Post report.
Defense attorneys for suspected theater shooter James Holmes said their client was sent to the hospital Tuesday and needed to postpone a court hearing, but did not provide additional details about his condition.
However, sources said Holmes injured himself by ramming his head into a wall at the Arapahoe County jail.
Over objections from prosecutors, Arapahoe County District Court Judge William Sylvester moved a hearing scheduled for Thursday to Dec. 10. That is when lawyers will discuss how information about the package Holmes mailed to his psychiatrist was released to media, as well as other matters.
Citing concerns that divulging Holmes' "medical or psychiatric information" would waive right to keep other personal details out of the courtroom, public defender Tamara Brady declined to state his ailment or whether he was still hospitalized.
Earlier coverage of the Kansas and Colorado cases begins at the links.
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