Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 14, 1995 TAG: 9501160047
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Thomas David Strickler had maintained that mistakes by his lawyers led to his conviction for the murder of Leann Whitlock. He claimed in his appeal that his lawyers failed to object to an improperly worded instruction given to the jury.
But in an opinion released Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that any such errors - if they even existed - would not have altered the outcome of his trial.
"The evidence is overwhelming that Strickler committed the willful, deliberate and premeditated killing of Leann Whitlock in the commission of robbery while armed with a deadly weapon," Justice Leroy Hassell wrote in the court's opinion.
Whitlock, 19, was abducted by Strickler on Jan. 5, 1990 as she drove through the parking lot of Valley Mall in Harrisonburg. Her nude, battered and frozen body was found about a week later in a wooded area of Augusta County. She had been kicked and beaten and killed by four blows to the head that authorities determined were caused by a large rock.
Whitlock's belongings were taken during the incident; testimony showed Strickler later gave her earrings to a woman he was with the night after the murder.
Strickler was sentenced to death, while another man who participated in the killing, Ronald Henderson, received a life sentence.
Friday's ruling was the latest step for Strickler in a lengthy appeal process that is less than half completed. His next step most likely will be to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his case.
by CNB