Missouri Supreme Court to hear Chris Collings' appeal today

The effort to keep Chris Collings from receiving the death penalty begins today in Jefferson City when the Missouri Supreme Court hears his appeal. Collings was sentenced to death for the murder of nine-year-old Rowan Ford of Stella on November 2, 2007. His lawyer's version of the case can be found at this link. The state's reasons why Collings should be put to death and its version of the case can be found at this link.

2013 in Review- Death row appeal: Chris Collings is sorry for killing Rowan Ford, so don't kill him

(From November 26, 2013)

(Warning: The following post contains graphic material.)

The first step in the efforts by Chris Collings to avoid the death penalty for the rape and murder of nine-year-old Triway Elementary student Rowan Ford are scheduled for a January 8 hearing before the Missouri Supreme Court.

In documents filed with the Supreme Court, Collings' attorneys claim that he should either be given a new trial, be sentenced to second degree murder instead of first degree, or resentenced to life without the possibility of parole.