The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday reversed a ruling that threw out the murder convictions and death sentence against a Covington man who killed his three young children in a fire.
A state judge had thrown out the convictions against William David Riley on grounds he was deprived a fair trial because his defense lawyers were so ineffective. But the state high court unanimously overturned that decision.
On Aug. 16, 2000, Riley was renting a trailer in Newton County with his girlfriend and three children, ages 3 to 6 years old — Samantha, William and Ashley. At about 10:45 p.m., a fire broke out in the mobile home.
Riley, his girlfriend and a friend who was sleeping on the couch were able to escape. The three children died in their bedroom.
Riley seemed unemotional to neighbors and firefighters who arrived at the scene and was found wearing a full set of clothes and boots, according to testimony. At trial, Riley’s girlfriend testified he called the children derogatory names and had threatened to kill them before he would let the Department of Family and Children Services take custody of them.
Three days before the fire, a neighbor heard Riley say he wished his girlfriend and children were dead. Riley initially told police the fire may have been caused by an electrical short. But he later changed his story, saying he set the fire to his son’s bed in order to scare his girlfriend and by the time he returned to the children’s bedroom he was unable to save them because the fire had grown out of control.
The judge overseeing Riley’s appeals found his trial lawyers failed to mount an effective defense, such as failing to present evidence suggesting Riley’s girlfriend was guilty and failing to present evidence of electrical problems in the trailer.
Writing for the state Supreme Court, Chief Justice Carol Hunstein said the combined effect of Riley’s lawyers’ deficienct performance would not have changed the outcome of either phase of the trial — the guilty verdicts or the death sentence. The court returned the case to the same state judge to determine whether Riley’s appellate lawyer was ineffective.
About the Author
