622 S.W. 2d 854 (Mo. banc 1983)
Larry Griffin was executed June 21, 199
Missourinet reporter Julie Anderson covered the execution of Larry Griffen in 1995 and recorded the pre and post-execution news briefings. AUDIO 16 min The audio has been slightly edited to eliminate some pauses but no content has been chagned. Reporter questions which wee asked off-mic have been amplified to make them audible. The first minute of audio is Corrections Department spokesman Tim Kniest announcing the execution would go ahead after the appeals which caused it to be delayed had been exhausted. The rest of the material is the post-execution press conference. The Corrections Department employees heard are Kniest, Corrections Director Dora Shriro, and George Lombardi, the director of adult institutions.
Anderson filed this account of Griffin’s final hours while his last appeals were being considered. AUDIO
Case Facts: On June 26, 1980 at approximately 4:25 p.m. gun shots were fired from a moving car at the intersection of Sarah and Olive in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. The shots struck two men, Quinton Moss and Wallace Connors. According to the coroner’s report, Mr. Moss died of 13 gunshot wounds in various parts of his body including his shoulders, left lung, heart and head. A witness to the shooting gave police a description of the car and also identified Larry Griffin from a group of police photos as the man in the front passenger seat who fired the shots.
Later that day, police located the car and found a .30 caliber semi-automatic carbine capable of holding a clip of 31 cartridges and a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver in the trunk along with several .30 caliber carbine shell casings. The police officers also found some papers with the names of several individuals. Fragments of bullets found at the scene were positively identified as having been fired from the semi-automatic carbine.
The investigation revealed that the deceased victim, Quniton Moss, had been arrested on January 2, 1980 in connection with the death of Dennis Griffin, brother of Larry Griffin. Moss’ mother told police that on the afternoon of May 13, 1980 her son told her he had been shot at the corner of Sarah and Olive. Police had identified Larry Griffin near the scene of the May 13th shooting.
On June 30, 1980 police arrested and charged Larry Griffin with the murder of Quinton Moss.
Legal Chronology
1974
05/06 – Griffin was remanded to the Missouri Department of Corrections from the City of St. Louis for three years and two years on two Burglary Second Degree charges to run concurrently.
1977
05/11 – Griffin was arrested in the City of St. Louis for Stealing Under $50,000. He was granted probation for six months on the first sentence and remanded to the St. Louis Medium Security Institution for 30 days on the second charge.
06/04 – Griffin was arrested in the City of St. Louis for felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor assault, and possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the felony charge to run concurrently with the three year sentence for Stealing Over $50,000 charge of November 10, 1975 and 30 days in the St. Louis Medium Security Institution for the misdemeanor charges.
1979
04/11 – (St. Louis) Griffin was sentenced to ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for Robbery First Degree and Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was also sentenced to five years for Burglary Second Degree and Carrying a Concealed Weapon. All sentences were concurrent.
1980
4/26 – Quintin Moss was shot to death in a drive-by- shooting in St Louis City
1981
4/04 – An indictment was filed in St. Louis City charging Larry Griffin with capital murder for the shooting death of Quintin Moss.
6/22-27- Griffin was tried in the Circuit Court of St. Louis City and was found guilty of capital murder. The jury recommended a sentence of death.
8/07 – A motion for new trial was denied, and Griffin was sentenced to death for killing Quintin Moss.
8/11- A notice of appeal was filed.
1983
12/20 – The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed Griffin’s conviction and sentence.
1984
10/01- The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari.
11/16- Griffin filed a Rule 27.26 motion for post-conviction relieft in the Circuit Court of St. Louis City.
1987
2/23- The motion for post-conviction relief was denied.
1988
2/16- The Missouri Court of Appeal, Eastern District, affirmed the denial of post-conviction relief.
6/03- Griffin filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
1990
7/16 – The petition for writ of habeas corpus was denied.
1991
10/11- The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the Districts Court’s order and denied the petition for writ of habeas corpus.
1992
7/16- Rehearing was granted by the United States court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the case was remanded to the District Court for further proceedings.
10/5- The United States Supreme Court denied respondent’s petition for writ of certiorari.
1993
10/6- The District Court conducted an evidentiary hearing.
10/25- The petition for writ of habeas corpus on remand is denied.
1994
2/24- The United States Court of Appeals fr the Eighth Circuit remands the case to the district court for further proceedings.
4/25- The petition for writ of habeas corpus on remand is again denied.
8/23 – The United States Court of Appeals for the Eightn Circuit affirms the District Court denial.
1995
5/15- The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari.
5/19 – The Missouri Supreme Court set June 21, 1995, as Griffin’s execution date.