Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 8, 1995 TAG: 9506080069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
On Wednesday, Turk denied Savino's motion, saying that he found no errors in his previous ruling. Savino has 30 days to file notice that he plans to appeal Turk's decision to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. From there, the appeal would go to the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected petitions by Savino in 1990 and 1993.
Savino is on death row for killing his lover, Thos McWaters, in Bedford seven years ago.
Savino, 36, originally was scheduled for execution in June 1990. The week before he was to go to the electric chair, he said he would not appeal and was ready to die; but days later, he asked lawyers to appeal his conviction.
In the appeal that Turk rejected in March, Savino cited 14 claims. In dismissing the petition, Turk ruled that nine were procedurally barred and the rest were without merit.
Death row appeals go through the system two times; Savino's appeal is on its second trip.
Savino said he was addicted to cocaine at the time he beat McWaters to death, and that he robbed McWaters afterward to buy more cocaine.
by CNB