Appeals panel rules for man on death row convicted of 5 arson deaths
9/11/2007CINCINNATI - The constitutional rights of a man on death row for the arson killings of five children were violated by use of his confession at trial and he must be released or retried, a divided federal appeals court panel ruled Tuesday.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges ruled 2-1 that William L. Garner didn't understand his right to silence when he told police he would waive his Miranda rights against self-incrimination. He gave a taped statement to police, saying he set fire to a Cincinnati apartment with six children inside to destroy evidence of his burglary, according to court records.
Garner told police he thought the children would be awakened by the smoke and escape, according to court records. Only one child survived, and Garner, now 34, was subsequently convicted of five counts of aggravated murder in the 1992 fire, along with other charges including arson.
Judge Karen Nelson Moore, joined by Judge Boyce L. Martin, wrote that evidence showed that Garner, 19 at the time of the statement, was poorly educated, and had low intelligence and other limitations directly related to understanding and comprehending his rights. Expert testimony also showed that Garner didn't understand the word "right" or his right to remain silent, their opinion stated.
"Thus, admission of his statement at trial was unconstitutional," the opinion stated.
The judges granted Garner's request for habeas corpus, which protects inmates from unlawful imprisonment, and ordered his release in 180 days unless the state sets a new trial. The state could appeal the ruling.
A message for comment was left at the Ohio attorney general's office.
Judge John M. Rogers dissented, saying police repeatedly asked and obtained assurance that Garner understood their meaning.
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