Deere
Deere v. Cullen
Opinion
Opinion
Snyder, J.
DEATH PENALTY CASE
ORDER GRANTING IN PART PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
Petitioner Ronald Deere is an inmate on California’s death row. He was convicted of one count of first-degree murder for the killing of Don Davis and two counts of second-degree murder for the killings of Michelle and Melissa Davis, accompanied by a finding of multiple-murder special circumstance, and was sentenced to death. Upon the direct appeal of that sentence, the California Supreme Court found that defense counsel’s failure to present any mitigating evidence in the penalty phase deprived Deere of effective assistance of counsel, notwithstanding Deere’s own decision to invite a death sentence. The sentence was reversed as to penalty and affirmed in all other respects. People v. Deere, 41 Cal.3d 353 , 710 P.2d 925 , 222 Cal.Rptr. 13 (1985).
After the retrial of the penalty phase, Deere was again given a sentence of death. The California Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence upon automatic appeal. People v. Deere, 53 Cal.3d 705 , 808 P.2d 1181 , 280 Cal.Rptr. 424 (1991).
Deere filed his initial Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on May 18, 1993, and filed his First Amended Petition for Writ of…