Phillips Black

kimber Edwards

Current Proceedings: None.

Case Number: Unknown

Judge: Unknown

Defendant’s Demographic Information: Black Male

Current Counsel:

Legal Status: October 2, 2015 Governor Jay Nixon commuted death sentence to life without parole.

Significant Legal Issues:

• Substantial claim of actual innocence based on recantation of prosecution’s key witness; reliability of Mr. Edwards’ confession to police in light of Asperger’s syndrome

• Batson claim involving the fact that the prosecution struck all three eligible black veniremembers, left Mr. Edwards with an all-white jury, used the since-discredited “postal worker” explanation to justify strikes, and otherwise justified strikes with explanations that applied equally well to white jurors who were not stricken

• Prosecutor’s comment on Mr. Edwards’ failure to testify at trial

Last Judicial Decision Related to Conviction or Sentence:

• Petition for writ of habeas corpus denied by Missouri Supreme Court November 24, 2015 (Case No. SC95269)

Reported Opinions:

• Habeas Corpus denied by Edwards v. Roper, No. 4:06-CV-1419 (CEJ), 2009 WL 3164112 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 28, 2009), aff’d, 688 F.3d 449 (8th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 134 S. CT. 58 (2013)

• Denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by Edwards v. State, 200 S.W.3d 509 (Mo. 2006), cert. denied, 549 U.S. 1255 (2007)

• Conviction and sentence affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Edwards, 116 S.W.3d 511 (Mo. 2003), cert. denied, 540 U.S. 1186 (2004)

Prior Counsel:

• Loyce Ann Rhodes

• Robert Winthrop Lundt

Conviction County: St. Louis County

Counts: 1

Victim Demographic: Black Female

Crime Date: 08/22/2000

Sentencing Date: 06/27/2002

Trial Counsel:

• Charles Moreland

• Michelle Monahan

Trial Judge: Unknown

Trial Prosecutor: Unknown