LAWS, LEONARD
General InformationDOB: August 1, 1949
Race: White
Gender: Male
Crime and Trial
County of conviction: St. Louis
Number of counts: Two
Race of victim: White/White
Gender of victim: Female/Male
Date of crime: October 28-29, 1980
Date of sentencing: September 21, 1982
Date of execution: May 17, 1990
Legal status:
Trial Counsel:Last counsel of record:
Barry Short
James V. O'Brien
Cordell Shulton
Lewis, Rice & Fingerish
500 N. Broadway, Suite 2000
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-444-7600
Last judicial decision:
--Grant of habeas by U.S. District Court reversed by Laws v. Armontrout, 863 F.2d 1377 (8th Cir. 1988) (en banc), adhered to on rehearing, 863 F.2d 1377 (8th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 104 (1989).
Reported Opinions:
--Conviction and death sentence affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Laws, 661 S.W.2d 526 (Mo. banc 1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1210 (1984).
--Conviction of capital murder and sentence of life imprisonment affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Laws, 699 S.W.2d 102 (Mo. App. S.D. 1985), transfer denied, Dec. 17, 1985.
--Conviction of capital murder and sentence of life imprisonment affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Laws , 668 S.W.2d 234 (Mo. App. E.D. 1984).
--Stay of execution granted pending first petition for certiori on direct appeal (per Blackmun, J., sitting as Circuit Justice), by McDonald v. Missouri, 464 U.S. 1306 (1984)
--Denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by Laws v. State, 708 S.W.2d 182 (Mo. App. E.D. 1986)
--Grant of habeas by U.S. District Court reversed by Laws v. Armontrout, 863 F.2d 1377 (8th Cir. 1988) (en banc), adhered to on rehearing, 863 F.2d 1377 (8th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 104 (1989).
Significant legal issues:
--trial counsel's failure to present mitigating evidence at sentencing, including evidence of Mr. Laws' Vietnam War record , testimony of his family and community members, and evidence of his psychiatric condition, and the psychological effects of his military service
--trial counsel's failure to investigate the defendant's background and present mitigating evidence, including that described above
--Mr. Laws' limited involvement in the robbery/murder at issue, which also involved George and Norman Gilmore