Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 23, 1995                   TAG: 9509250031
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS                                 LENGTH: Short

SLAYER OF POLICEMAN DROPS APPEAL

Boyd's attorney, Robert Lawrence, said Boyd ended the appeal out of respect for Officer Larry Bland's mother, Christine Bland, who Lawrence said made an impact on Boyd at his trial. Lawrence also said Boyd realized how fortunate he was in receiving a sentence of life in prison instead of death.

Boyd had appealed on the grounds that expert witnesses should have been allowed to testify about how cocaine affected his system in the moments before the shooting.

Bland, 48, was killed May 13, 1994, when Boyd, who had been stopped for a traffic violation, opened fire from the back seat of the patrol car, where Bland had put him, apparently without frisking him.

- Associated Press