Hooper v. State

After a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. The district court imposed three concurrent life sentences. Fifteen years after the Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s convictions and the denial of his first postconviction motion, Defendant filed this fourth petition for postconviction relief, alleging that a confession witness recanted her testimony that Defendant confessed to the murder. The postconviction court summarily denied relief, holding that Defendant’s petition was untimely and that Defendant’s previously raised recantation claims were procedurally barred under State. v. Knaffla. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the postconviction court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Defendant’s petition was untimely and that his previously raised claims were Knaffla-barred. View "Hooper v. State" on Justia Law