REESE, DONALD EDWARD
General Information
DOB: May 7, 1943
Race: White
Gender: Male
Crime and Trial
County of conviction: Jefferson
Number of counts: Two (plus two additional non-capital homicide counts)
Race of victim: White/white
Gender of victim: Male/male
Date of crime: September 9, 1986
Date of sentencing: May 10, 1988
Date of execution: August 13, 1997
Legal status:
Trial Counsel:
Mark Kempton
Last counsel of record:
Charles C. Maas
Almond & Williams
284 Second St., P.O. Box 386
Hillsboro, MO 63050
314-789-3388
Marta H. Tilney
1750 S. Brentwood, Suite 203
St. Louis, MO 63144
314-968-1122
Last judicial decision:
--Application for writ of habeas corpus (pursuant to U.S. Supreme Court original jurisdiction) and stay of execution denied by In re Reese, 521 U.S. 1139 (1997).
Reported opinions:
--Conviction, sentence, and denial of post-conviction relief affirmed by State v. Reese, 795 S.W.2d 69 (Mo. banc 1991), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1110 (1991).
--Denial of habeas corpus affirmed by Reese v. Delo, 94 F.3d 1177 (8th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1257 (1997).
--Application for writ of habeas corpus (pursuant to U.S. Supreme Court original jurisdiction) and stay of execution denied by In re Reese, 521 U.S. 1139 (1997).
Significant legal issues:
--trial counsel's failure to present a meaningful mitigation case at sentencing, and to investigate and present evidence concerning Mr. Reese's background, psychological impairments and family history
--prosecution's failure to disclose that the victim's family did not want Mr. Reese to be sentenced to death
--Sixth Amendment claim stemming from the fact that the police questioned Mr. Reese after he completed a form requesting the public defender's appointment
--penalty phase instruction that effectively required the jury to find mitigating circumstances unanimously in order to give them effect