Appeal Rejected In 1996 UM Campus Slayings
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — A South Florida man on death row has lost another appeal in the murders of his former girlfriend and a football player at an apartment on the University of Miami's campus.
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Labrant Dennis' murder convictions and death sentence.
Dennis was convicted of fatally beating Timwanka Lumpkins and Hurricanes linebacker Marlin Barnes with a broken shotgun in April 1996. Both died from massive head trauma. Jurors voted 11-1 to recommend the death penalty.
The Supreme Court denied an initial appeal in 2002.
In the new case, the justices rejected Dennis' claims his lawyer was ineffective and had a conflict of interest and that a prosecutor made improper comments throughout his trial.
Dennis and Lumpkins had a child together.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
