Weeks after a federal jury decided that Ronell Wilson, who was convicted of murdering two undercover detectives, should be executed, his attorneys insist that prosecutors' "improper and harmful arguments" merit a new trial (See motion for a new penalty trial).
Although prosecutors convinced a jury that Wilson deserves capital punishment for the 2003 shootings, defense counsel assert that the government failed to show Wilson constituted a future danger behind bars, misstated significant facts and unfairly inflamed jurors' passions. The defense lawyers have asked Eastern District Judge Nicholas Garaufis to overturn the verdict and order a new trial—which would be the third for Wilson.
