BRILEY PIPER

DOB:
Race: White
Gender: Male

County of conviction: Lawrence
Number of counts: One
Race of victim: White
Gender of victim: Male
Date of crime: March 13, 2000
Date of sentencing: January 19, 2001

Trial Counsel:

Tim Rensch

Patrick Duffy

Current proceedings:

Last judicial decision:

• South Dakota Supreme Court affirms the state court's adherence to the death penalty.  State v. Piper, 709 N.W.2d 783 (S.D. 2006).

Current counsel:

Tim Rensch
731 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-341-1210

Patrick Duffy
604 Mount Rushmore Road
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-342-1963

Reported Opinions:

• South Dakota Supreme Court affirms the state court's adherence to the death penalty.  State v. Piper, 709 N.W.2d 783 (S.D. 2006).
   
• Death sentence adhered by circuit court on remand from South Dakota Supreme Court (unpublished decision, Nov. 27, 2002)

Significant legal issues:

• Ring claim, since Mr. Piper pleaded guilty and was sentenced by a judge
   
• Brady claim stemming from early release of prison snitch just four days after Mr. Piper was sentenced to death (snitch had testified during the penalty phase that Mr. Piper had said he was planning to kill prison guards and escape)
   
• relative culpability of Mr. Piper in relation to his two co-defendants (defendant who struck the lethal blow received a life sentence)
   
• validity of Mr. Piper's plea, which was entered without a plea agreement
   
• possibility of undisclosed inducements to a snitch witness

Return to casetracker list