Chatman v. Walker

Following the imposition of a death sentence, the habeas court's factual findings were sufficient to support the legal conclusions that trial counsel rendered constitutionally deficient performance during the sentencing phase and that the defendant was actually prejudiced by that performance.

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In 2005, a jury convicted Gregory Walker of malice murder and related crimes, and the jury fixed Walker’s sentence for the murder at death. This Court unanimously affirmed Walker’s convictions and sentences. See Walker v. State, 281 Ga. 157 635 SE2d 740 2006. In September 2008, Walker filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. In August 2014, following two hearings, the habeas court granted Walker’s petition in part and denied it in part, letting his convictions stand but vacating his death sentence. The Warden now appeals. We affirm.

I. Factual BackgroundOn the morning of June 8, 2001, Walker, along with Shedrick Tate and Denise Green, were asleep in a room at the Howard Johnson motel in Brunswick, Georgia. While they slept, Janeika Murphy, a motel housekeeper and an acquaintance of Walker, surreptitiously entered the room and stole cash, along with a cigar box containing marijuana and cocaine. Walker was “fuming” when he discovered that the cash and drugs were missing, and he spent the day investigating the theft. Later that evening, Walker received a telephone call, after which he informed his girlfriend that “he knew who had his drugs, and he was going to get them.” Walker, 281 Ga. at 158 1. Walker and Tate proceeded to Murphy’s house on foot, where they forcibly removed Murphy from her home. At Walker’s request, Green drove to Murphy’s house, and, when she arrived, she observed Tate in the front yard holding Murphy at gunpoint. Murphy was forced into the vehicle, and Green, following directions provided by Walker, drove to a secluded area. Tate, Walker, and Murphy exited the vehicle, and Green was instructed to “go around the block and come back.” Walker subsequently shot Murphy numerous times. At some point during the ordeal, Murphy sustained an injury consistent with being “pistol whipped,” but gunshots to her head caused her death.

Chatman v. Walker

Following the imposition of a death sentence, the habeas court's factual findings were sufficient to support the legal conclusions that trial counsel rendered constitutionally deficient performance during the sentencing phase and that the defendant was actually prejudiced by that performance.

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