O'NEAL, ROBERT E.
General Information
DOB: September 25, 1961
Race: White
Gender: Male
Crime and Trial
County of conviction: Butler
Number of counts: One
Race of victim: African-American
Gender of victim: Male
Date of crime: February 2, 1984
Date of sentencing: May 15, 1985
Date of execution: December 6, 1995
Legal status:
Trial Counsel:
_______ Woods
Last counsel of record:
Timony Kellett
Armstrong & Teasdale
One Metropolitan Square, Suite 2600
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-621-5070
Mike Gorla
720 Olive St., Suite 2301
St. Louis, MO 63101
314-621-1616
Last judicial decision:
--Denial of second petition for habeas corpus and for stay of execution affirmed by O'Neal v. Bowersox, 73 F.3d 169 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1020 (1995).
Reported Opinions:
--Conviction and sentence affirmed on direct appeal by State v. O'Neal, 718 S.W.2d 498 (Mo. banc 1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 926 (1987).
--Denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by O'Neal v. State, 766 S.W.2d 91 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 874 (1989).
--Denial of habeas corpus affirmed by O'Neal v. Delo, 44 F.3d 655 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 843 (1995).
--Denial of second petition for habeas corpus and for stay of execution affirmed by O'Neal v. Bowersox, 73 F.3d 169 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1020 (1995).
Significant legal issues:
--Brady claim regarding the prosecution's failure to disclose the three felony convictions of state's witness and correctional officer John Maylee
--sheriff's and sheriff's staff's acquaintance with numerous members of the venire, who were called as "special veniremembers" in order to increase the size of the panel
--striking under Witherspoon of veniremember who stated that she would not "feel right" with imposing the death penalty