Judge Refuses to Review Case of Matthew Shepard Killer
A federal judge has refused to review Russell Henderson’s case.
Russell Henderson is serving two life sentences for killing 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who was found severely beaten and tied to a fence near Laramie on Oct. 7, 1998.
He died five days later at a hospital in Fort Collins.
Attorney Tim Newcomb says Henderson was never told of his right to appeal, effectively denying Henderson’s right to appellate counsel.
But US District Judge Clarence Brimmer rejected the motion for a writ of habeas corpus last week.
Prosecutors argued Henderson and a friend, Aaron McKinney, beat Shepard at least partly because he was gay.
The convicted killers later told ABC News they were motivated only by robbery in order to fuel a methamphetamine binge.
A Wyoming district court and that state’s Supreme Court previously rejected Henderson’s motion.
McKinney was also sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
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