The US Supreme Court has decided not to review an appeal from a Mississippi death row inmate found guilty of murdering a high school student by running her over with a car. Leslie “Bo” Galloway III, now 41, was convicted in 2010 in Harrison County for the murder of 17-year-old Shakeylia Anderson from Gulfport.
Prosecutors argued that Galloway killed Anderson and disposed of her body in the woods off a state highway. A witness reported seeing Anderson, a senior at Harrison Central High School, entering Galloway’s car on December 5, 2008. Her body was discovered the following day by hunters. Prosecutors revealed that she had been raped, severely burned, and struck by a vehicle.
Galloway’s legal team asserts that he did not receive effective legal representation during his trial. His attorneys claim that crucial information about Galloway’s background and upbringing, which could have influenced the sentencing, was not presented to the jury. Claudia Van Wyk from the ACLU’s capital punishment project criticised the handling of Galloway’s case, stating that the Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene is a missed opportunity to address legal errors.
In a separate appeal filed in July, Galloway’s current attorneys argue various points, including the racial composition of the jury that convicted him and alleged racial bias in jury selection. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves has set a deadline for responses until next July regarding this appeal.
The appeal also challenges the testimony of a forensic pathologist involved in the case, claiming it relied on “junk science.” The defence argues that his trial lawyers failed to adequately challenge this testimony. The rejection of Galloway’s appeal by the Supreme Court follows a similar decision in 2014.
Despite the denials, Galloway and his legal team continue to pursue avenues to challenge his conviction and sentence. The journey through the legal system for those facing the death penalty often involves multiple appeals and attempts to bring new evidence or legal arguments to light.