State v. Hart
SimpleOriginal
2013 | State Juristiction

State v. Hart

Keywords juvenile offender; juvenile life without parole; JLWOP; Eighth Amendment; cruel and unusual punishment; Miller v. Alabama

Abstract

This case before the Supreme Court of Missouri involved the appeal of a defendant, Mr. Hart, who was convicted of first-degree murder and and sentenced to life without parole when he was a juvenile. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 2012 in Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that a sentence of life without parole for murder committed by a juvenile violated the Eighth Amendment. Mr. Hart's case was remanded for resentencing.

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Abstract

This case before the Supreme Court of Missouri involved the appeal of a defendant, Mr. Hart, who was convicted of first-degree murder and and sentenced to life without parole when he was a juvenile. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 2012 in Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that a sentence of life without parole for murder committed by a juvenile violated the Eighth Amendment. Mr. Hart's case was remanded for resentencing.

Summary

The Missouri Supreme Court heard an appeal from Mr. Hart, who had been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole as a juvenile. The court's decision was guided by the 2012 Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. Alabama, which determined that sentencing juveniles to life without the possibility of parole for murder violated the Eighth Amendment. Consequently, Mr. Hart's case was returned to the lower court for a new sentencing hearing.

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Abstract

This case before the Supreme Court of Missouri involved the appeal of a defendant, Mr. Hart, who was convicted of first-degree murder and and sentenced to life without parole when he was a juvenile. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 2012 in Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that a sentence of life without parole for murder committed by a juvenile violated the Eighth Amendment. Mr. Hart's case was remanded for resentencing.

Summary

This case, heard by the Missouri Supreme Court, involved the appeal of a defendant, Mr. Hart, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Mr. Hart was a juvenile at the time of the offense.

The Supreme Court of Missouri reviewed Mr. Hart's case in light of the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Miller v. Alabama, which found that sentencing juveniles to life without parole for murder violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Consequently, the Missouri Supreme Court vacated Mr. Hart's sentence and remanded the case for resentencing.

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Abstract

This case before the Supreme Court of Missouri involved the appeal of a defendant, Mr. Hart, who was convicted of first-degree murder and and sentenced to life without parole when he was a juvenile. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 2012 in Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that a sentence of life without parole for murder committed by a juvenile violated the Eighth Amendment. Mr. Hart's case was remanded for resentencing.

Summary

This case involved a defendant named Mr. Hart who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was a minor when he committed the crime.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that sentencing juveniles to life without parole for murder violates the Eighth Amendment. The Missouri Supreme Court followed this ruling and decided Mr. Hart's sentence was unconstitutional. His case was sent back to the lower court for a new sentencing hearing.

Open Case as PDF

Abstract

This case before the Supreme Court of Missouri involved the appeal of a defendant, Mr. Hart, who was convicted of first-degree murder and and sentenced to life without parole when he was a juvenile. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in 2012 in Miller v. Alabama, the Supreme Court of Missouri held that a sentence of life without parole for murder committed by a juvenile violated the Eighth Amendment. Mr. Hart's case was remanded for resentencing.

Summary

Mr. Hart was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was a teenager when the crime happened.

The Supreme Court of Missouri said that this sentence was against the law, based on a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012. This means Mr. Hart's case will be looked at again, and a new sentence could be decided.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

404 S.W.3d 232 (Mo.banc 2013)

Highlights