Grover F. Hill v. Louis S. Nelson, Warden

Grover F. Hill (appellant) appeals from the district court’s order dismissing his petition for habeas corpus. Hill was convicted in the State Court of second degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In his petition, Hill asserted that (1) his confession was coerced, and (2) his counsel was incompetent.

Hill was arrested shortly after his common law wife was shot to death, Within an hour after his arrest, Hill gave a statement to the police. At the trial, a woman testified that she had been with Hill on the night of the killing and that Hill repeatedly referred to his wife as a “bitch” and said that he was going to “get her.” The woman also testified that she drove to Hill’s apartment with him and that she waited in the car while he went inside. Within a few minutes she heard a gunshot. She ran into the apartment and saw Hill standing over his wife’s body with a gun in his hand.

One of the officers to whom Hill made his statement also testified. He said that before Hill admitted anything he was advised of his constitutional rights. The officer then read Hill’s statement in evidence. Neither Hill nor his attorney objected to the statement on the basis that it was…