The Missouri Supreme Court declined to stop Brian Dorsey’s execution, set for next month, for the murder of his cousin and her husband 18 years ago.
Judge W. Brent Powell stated Dorsey hadn’t proven his innocence and couldn’t raise the claim of ineffective counsel again.
Dorsey’s attorney, Megan Crane, plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that Dorsey’s trial lawyers didn’t adequately defend him.
Dorsey is scheduled for execution on April 9, the first in Missouri in 2024. He was convicted of killing Sarah and Ben Bonnie in 2006.
Dorsey claims drug-induced psychosis affected his judgment during the killings, but the court cited evidence of premeditation.
Despite initially pleading guilty in 2008, Dorsey later contested his sentence, seeking life imprisonment instead.
