Opinion ID: 2967758
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: a March 5, 1992, report made by Dr. Brown of the

Text: Medical Examiner’s office, which indicated that, based on his examination of Burde’s body at Windsor, he concluded that Burde’s death was a suicide (Dr. Brown’s first report); (2) a laboratory request made by Dr. Jefferson, the physician in the Medical Examiner’s office who conducted Burde’s autopsy, labeling Burde’s death a suicide (Dr. Jefferson’s notes); and (3) evidence that Burde’s ex-wife, Dr. Brigitte Burde, had advised the Medical Examiner’s office that Burde had been experiencing personal problems and taking Librium, an anti-depressant medication (the anti-depressant disclosure). 6 Krystyna’s medical records show that she had scheduled an abortion for March 11, 1992, just days after Burde’s death. She cancelled this appointment once Burde was dead. MONROE v. ANGELONE 9 These items came to light through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Powhatan County Medical Examiner after the conclusion of Monroe’s trial (the FOIA request). In its order of January 29, 1998, the Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed Monroe’s habeas corpus petition and refused, without explanation, to authorize either additional discovery or Monroe’s proposed amendment. Monroe v. Dir. of the Dep’t of Corr., No. 970666 (Va. Jan. 29, 1998) (Monroe II). In dismissing the petition, the court ruled that most of Monroe’s claims had been defaulted, pursuant to Slayton v. Parrigan, 205 S.E.2d 680 (Va. 1974), because they had not been raised at the earliest opportunity. As for the claims Monroe had preserved, the court ruled that Monroe was not entitled to any relief.