Opinion ID: 2130318
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Procedural background of this case

Text: Petitioner, Darnell Williams, by counsel, has filed a Tender of Successive Petition for Post-Conviction Relief Requesting Forensic Testing Pursuant to I.C. 35-38-7(1)-(19) and has tendered a Motion For Forensic Testing .... Respondent, the State of Indiana, was permitted to file State's Response in Opposition to Tender of Successive Petition For Post-Conviction Relief. Williams tendered a Reply to State's Response In Opposition to Tender of Successive Petition For Post-Conviction Relief and Submission of Habeas Exhibits. In addition, amici substantively aligned with Williams were allowed to file Amicus Curiae Brief of A Group Of Concerned Attorneys And Law Professors In Support Of Motion For Forensic Testing Pursuant To Indiana Code § 35-38-7-1. The State has also filed a Motion to Set Execution Date, which is the subject of a separate order entered today. The Court has jurisdiction because Williams has been sentenced to death. See Ind. Appellate Rule 4(A)(1)(a). Williams was convicted of two counts of felony murder for two killings committed in the course of a robbery. See Ind.Code § 35-42-1-1(2) (A person who ... kills another human being while committing or attempting to commit ... robbery ... commits murder, a felony.). The State sought the death penalty, alleging an intentional killing during a robbery and the multiple murders. See I.C. § 35-50-2-9(b)(1) & (8) (1986). The Lake Superior Court followed the jury's unanimous recommendation and sentenced Williams to death. See I.C. § 35-50-2-9(e) (1986). The convictions and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal in Rouster v. State, 600 N.E.2d 1342 (Ind.1992), reh'g denied (Ind.1993). The trial court's judgment denying relief in state post-conviction proceedings was affirmed on appeal in Williams v. State, 706 N.E.2d 149 (Ind. 1999), cert. denied, 529 U.S. 1113, 120 S.Ct. 1970, 146 L.Ed.2d 800 (2000). The federal courts denied a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Williams v. Anderson, 174 F.Supp.2d 843 (N.D.Ind.2001), aff'd, Williams v. Davis, 301 F.3d 625 (7th Cir. 2002), cert. denied ___ U.S. ___, 123 S.Ct. 1904, 155 L.Ed.2d 831 (Apr. 28, 2003). Williams has thus completed the review of his convictions and death sentence to which he is entitled as a matter of right.