Last month, Peeler’s attorneys filed a motion seeking a competency evaluation for Peeler. He noted one recent case in which Kestenband argued successfully on behalf of a client who ultimately received a reduced sentence.īright, however, disagreed with the attorneys that Peeler should be given a competency exam, saying Peeler, 42, understands what he is facing in court and can assist in his counsel. Kestenband are some of the “best” attorneys in the state handling habeas petitions. Bright told Peeler that attorneys William H. Proceedings resume this morning.VERNON - A Superior Court judge Thursday rejected condemned killer Russell Peeler Jr.’s bid to fire his attorneys on the eve of a hearing on his petition for a new trial. The judge later softened, and gave Koch and Walkley the afternoon off to consider calling more witnesses and to work on closing arguments. “If you’re not confident, you shouldn’t have taken the case.” “Don’t make that argument,” the judge replied. Koch Jr., who said he and Walkley needed more time to prepare.Īsking for a continuance until Monday, Koch reminded the judge that neither he nor Walkley had handled a capital case. ![]() “He was concerned for her safety,” Walkley said.Īfter a contentious exchange, Ford adjourned court early at the request of Walkley’s co-counsel, William T. Walkley said later that Peeler decided against having his daughter testify. The lawyer announced that there would be no more witnesses Wednesday. Peeler, who has shown little expression or emotion during the trial, immediately had an animated conversation with one of his attorneys, John T. Sarsfield Ford and told him, “I’m gonna let Rochelle in here. I could use it.”Įxpecting that Peeler’s daughter, Rochelle, was to be the next witness, she abruptly turned to Judge G. When Benedict asked about Peeler’s being sued by the state for failure to support his children - the state says he owes $24,000 in back child support - Bush suggested that Peeler simply forgot to get receipts.ĭid she know that Peeler and his brother had stashed $60,000 to $70,000 in drug profits in a safe? Benedict asked. ![]() Benedict, Bush acknowledged that a stepson is doing time for murder, and her nephews are reputed drug leaders involved in a gang known as the Bush Mob. Under cross-examination by State’s Attorney Jonathan C. The grandmother of 24 and foster mother of 36, Bush said some in her circle have found their way through the court system. She conceded that she is used to vouching for young men in trouble. “He wouldn’t pay nobody, because he’s too cheap,” Bush said. was to have been a witness in the Snead case.Ī bit too colorfully for even some of Peeler’s supporters, Bush discounted trial testimony that Peeler had offered to pay a man to kill Clarke and B.J. Russell Peeler, 28, already is serving life in prison on a federal drug conviction and 105 years for killing Rudolph Snead Jr., a drug associate who was Clarke’s fiance. “I’m here to tell you, you got the wrong kid,” Bush said. 7, 1999, to keep the boy from testifying against him in another murder case. She left no doubt that she did not accept the jury’s conclusion that Peeler ordered his younger brother, Adrian Peeler, to kill Clarke and B.J. She said, “To put it in words, he was like a mama’s boy.”īut the plain-spoken Bush seemed to make the bigger impression. ![]() ![]() Manning told the jury that her nephew had been extremely close to his mother, a police officer who died of cancer in 1993.
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