FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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July 10, 2008 Supreme Court denies relief to Death Row inmate The Florida Supreme Court agreed with Bay County Circuit Court Judge Dedee S. Costello and denied post-conviction relief to death row inmate James A. Card. After an evidentiary hearing in April, 2006, Costello ruled that Card was not entitled to relief based upon his allegation that trial counsel was ineffective. Costello’s order of June 9, 2006, was appealed to the Florida Supreme Court which issued an affirming opinion today. Card was sentenced to death in January, 1982, for the June 3, 1981, murder of Janis Franklin. In 1999, a second penalty phase was conducted, at which the jury recommended death by a vote of eleven to one. |