On Monday, July 14, a Lawrence County man’s conviction in the 2009 murder of a couple who was found shot to death in their home was upheld by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, according to a news article at WLOX 13 News. 66-year-old Charles Arthur Moore was convicted of the shooting deaths of Bailey and Betty Nichols in April of 2013. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Bailey Nichols was Moore’s business property landlord, according to the attorney general’s office. Apparently, Moore had not been paying the rent on his business and owed Nichols $2,000. Nichols and his wife were shot to death in their Lawrence County home after the two men had arranged to meet at the Nichols’ home concerning the rent Moore owed.
Moore was ultimately connected to the crime through tire tread found at the scene, a .32 caliber pistol, and a wallet containing Bailey Nichols’ belongings which were found at Moore’s residence when authorities executed a search warrant.
Soon after being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Moore sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal. News reports do not reveal argument or grounds on which Moore or his attorneys based the appeal.
Typically, individuals appeal a conviction based on ineffective assistance of counsel, errors made in the trial or court process, improper admission of eyewitness testimony or criminal history, or other factors. Every individual who is charged with a crime has the right to a fair trial, and in some instances mistakes are made that are unfair to the defendant and may affect whether he or she is found guilty. Tragically, some individuals are found guilty of crimes they did not commit; in this case, appealing the conviction is essential.
If you have been convicted of a crime and want to appeal your conviction, it is imperative that you seek out the support and guidance of a skilled and experienced Michigan criminal appeals attorney. The quality and ability of the lawyer you choose can mean the difference in whether your conviction is upheld or overturned, although no attorney can guarantee the outcome.