BY MARK R. CHELLGREN
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The state Supreme Court, in a remarkably speedy ruling, dismissed the contention of death row inmate Gregory Wilson that he did not really want to defend himself for raping and murdering a Covington woman.
Oral arguments in the case were held less than two months ago, and it customarily takes much longer for the justices to rule in such matters.
But Justice William Graves, in a unanimous ruling, said many of the complaints raised by Mr. Wilson were decided in the initial decision to uphold his conviction and sentence.
Deborah Pooley was kidnapped at knife point as she got out of her car in her apartment parking lot on the evening of May 29, 1987. While Brenda Humphrey drove, Mr. Wilson raped Ms. Pooley in the back seat, stole her belongings and strangled her. Ms. Pooley's body was found more than two weeks later in a wooded area of Hendricks County, Ind.
Mr. Wilson and Ms. Humphrey went shopping with Ms. Pooley's credit card in Indiana and Illinois.
Mr. Wilson, now 41, was sentenced to death for the murder, 20 years each on the rape and robbery charges and, after a new sentencing proceeding, 20 years on the kidnapping charge.
Ms. Humphrey was sentenced to life without possibility of parole for 25 years on the murder charge and a total of 40 years on other charges. The Supreme Court upheld both cases in earlier rulings.
The appeal decided Thursday was a later proceeding, alleging Mr. Wilson was improperly represented at trial.
Prior to his trial, Mr. Wilson went through a succession of attorneys, who withdrew for a variety of reasons. Mr. Wilson eventually chose to represent himself, along with two volunteers, in Kenton County Circuit Court. He now is arguing he never wanted to represent himself.
Justice Graves said it is too late for that change of mind.
"On direct appeal, this court thoroughly discussed and analyzed the issue of whether (Mr. Wilson) knowingly and voluntarily chose to proceed pro se," Justice Graves said.
There are 33 men under death sentences in Kentucky. Harold McQueen was executed in Kentucky's electric chair last year, the first person put to death by the state since 1962.
