Hearings Will Allow Closer Look Into Death Penalty Cases

Attorneys for inmate accused of killing corrections officer want to see prosecutors' case

Attorneys for an inmate accused of killing a corrections officer five years ago want prosecutors to reveal their evidence to determine whether it satisfies the state's death penalty statute.

The hearing, requested by lawyers for Lee Edward Stephens, is now allowed under a rule enacted by the state's highest court in June. In addition to giving opposing attorneys a peek into the other side's case, the hearings would allow judges to weed out death penalty prosecutions that don't satisfy the new law, one expert said.

Stephens' attorneys are hoping that as a result of the hearing, a judge will take the death penalty off the table for their client.

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