DAVIS, RALPH

Crime and Trial
County of conviction: Boone
Number of counts: One
Race of victim: White
Gender of victim: Female
Date of crime: June 9-10, 1986
Date of sentencing: April 25, 1989
Date of execution: April 28, 1999

Legal status:

Last counsel of record:
Elizabeth Unger Carlyle
200 S.E. Douglas, Suite 200
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
816-525-2050

Sean D. O'Brien
Public Interest Litigation Clinic
305 E. 63rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64113
816-363-2795

Last judicial decision:

--Petition for writ of habeas corpus (filed under U.S. Supreme Court's original jurisdiction), and application for stay of execution, denied by In re Davis, 526 U.S. 1095 (1999)

Reported Opinions:

--Conviction, sentence and denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by State v. Davis, 814 S.W.2d 593 (Mo. banc 1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1047 (1992).

--Petition for writ of habeas corpus (filed under U.S. Supreme Court's original jurisdiction), and application for stay of execution, denied by In re Davis, 526 U.S. 1095 (1999).

Significant legal issues:

--trial counsel's failure to consult his client and pursue the opportunity to resolve the case through a plea; case was initially filed as second degree murder, and counsel's assistant learned that the prosecutor planned to seek the death penalty if counsel's third motion for continuance was granted; counsel nevertheless refused to withdraw the continuance motion

--prosecutor's repeated comments on Mr. Davis's failure to testify, including argument during the penalty phase that "only" the defendant knew where the victim's body was

--trial counsel's failure to investigate and present mitigating evidence regarding Mr. Davis's mental health difficulties and family history

Return to executed case list