The Willie Manning Case in Mississippi

"Death row inmate opposes setting execution date," is the AP report by Jack Elliott Jr, via the San Francisco Chronicle.

Death row inmate Willie Jerome Manning has told the Mississippi Supreme Court that he has more arguments to make, meaning now is not the time to be setting an execution date sought by the attorney general's office.

Manning was recently denied an appeal by the U.S. Supreme Court in the deaths of two college students. The attorney general's office asked the Mississippi court to schedule the execution for April 24.

In a brief filed Monday, Manning's attorney said there are issues pending before the state high court. Manning is seeking a new trial, arguing that a jailhouse informant had recanted his testimony; that Manning's trial attorney was ineffective; and that blacks were improperly kept off his trial jury.

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports, "Willie Jerome Manning next in line on death row."  It's by Patsy R. Brumfield.

Willie Jerome Manning could become Mississippi’s next convicted murderer to be executed, if his further appeals are not effective.

Manning is accused in two sets of murders, although this death sentence is for only the 1992 fatal shootings of two Mississippi State University students, Pamela Tiffany Miller, 23, of Madison and Jon Stephen Steckler, 19, of Natchez.

He also was convicted in another double murder, but a trial judge delayed a decision on appeals issues until late June.

The state Attorney General’s Office recently asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to set Manning’s execution date after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider his case.

But earlier this week, Manning’s legal team told the appeals court he has more arguments to make, so it’s not the time to set a date for him to die.

And:

Manning is one of Mississippi’s 48 prisoners on Death Row for murder, some with other associated crimes. Two are women. Thirteen are Northeast Mississippi cases.

Earlier coverage of Willie Manning's case begins at the link.  More on his case is at the Justice 4 Willie website.