Title: Aizupitis v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
VARIS R. AIZUPITIS, 
 
Petitioner Below- 
Appellant, 
 
v. 
 
STATE OF DELAWARE, 
 
Respondent Below- 
Appellee. 
§ 
§ 
§  No. 149, 2007 
§ 
§ 
§  Court Below—Superior Court 
§  of the State of Delaware, 
§  in and for New Castle County 
§  C.A. No. 07M-03-044 
§  Cr. ID 9507001267 
§ 
 
Submitted:  June 17, 2007 
Decided:  August 20, 2007 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND, and RIDGELY, Justices. 
 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 20th day of August 2007, upon consideration of the appellant’s 
opening brief, the State’s motion to affirm, and the record below, it appears 
to the Court that: 
(1) 
The appellant, Varis Aizupitis, filed this appeal from the 
Superior Court’s order denying his petition for a writ of habeas corpus.  The 
State has filed a motion to affirm the judgment below on the ground that it is 
manifest on the face of Aizupitis’ opening brief that the appeal is without 
merit.  We agree and affirm. 
(2) 
The record reflects that, in 1996, a Superior Court jury found 
Aizupitis guilty but mentally ill of first degree murder and possession of a 
 
 
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firearm during the commission of a felony. This Court affirmed his 
convictions on direct appeal.1  Since that time, Aizupitis has been confined 
at the Delaware Psychiatric Center, consistent with 11 Del. C. § 408.  In 
February 1999, Aizupitis filed a motion for postconviction relief.  Based on 
a psychiatric evaluation performed in October 1999, the Superior Court 
determined that Aizupitis was not competent to proceed in the 
postconviction proceedings.  In September 2001, the Superior Court ordered 
a subsequent competency evaluation.  The trial court stayed disposition of 
the matter, however, until Aizupitis agreed to be examined by an additional 
psychiatrist.  In March 2007, Aizupitis filed a petition for a writ of habeas 
corpus seeking review of the Superior Court’s determination that he was not 
competent.  The Superior Court denied the writ, and this appeal followed. 
 (3) 
In Delaware, the writ of habeas corpus provides relief on a very 
limited basis.2  Pursuant to Section 6902 of Title 10 of the Delaware Code, 
habeas corpus relief is not available to a petitioner who is “committed or 
detained on a charge of treason or felony, the species whereof is plainly and 
fully set forth in the commitment.”3  In this case, a Superior Court jury 
                                                 
1 Aizupitis v. State, 699 A.2d 1092 (Del. 1997). 
2 Hall v. Carr, 692 A.2d 88, 891 (Del. 1997). 
3 DEL. CODE. ANN. tit. 10, § 6902 (1999). 
 
 
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found Aizupitis guilty but mentally ill.  His commitment to the Delaware 
Psychiatric Center, therefore, is valid on its face.4  To the extent Aizupitis 
seeks to challenge his continued commitment to the psychiatric center, the 
Superior Court has jurisdiction to review such a challenge under 11 Del. C. § 
408(c) without invoking the writ process.   
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the 
Superior Court is AFFIRMED.   
BY THE COURT: 
 
/s/ Myron T. Steele 
Chief Justice 
                                                 
4 11 Del. C. § 408(b).