Alabama Court Rejects Appeal in Dothan Murder

An Alabama appeals court has again upheld the capital murder conviction and death sentence that Jerry Devane Bryant received for a 1997 killing in Houston County.

The Court of Criminal Appeals issued a 5-0 decision Friday rejecting Bryant’s claims of ineffective counsel at his trial and sentencing. Bryant challenged his attorneys’ work after losing his initial round of appeals in which the Court of Criminal Appeals and state Supreme Court upheld his conviction.

Bryant was convicted of the July 27, 1997, kidnapping and shooting death of Donald Hollis in Dothan. Hollis was shot three times in the head and his body was dumped across the state line in Greenwood, Fla.

 

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