Rule 32 Petition Filed Challenging Murray Lawrence’s Conviction in 2003 Baldwin County Killing
A Rule 32 petition filed for Murray Lawrence alleges evidence was withheld from his defense in the 2003 killing of Brandon Hastings.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A Rule 32 petition has been filed on behalf of Murray Lawrence, a Baldwin County man who has been incarcerated for about 20 years, challenging his conviction in the 2003 killing of Brandon Hastings.
What the petition alleges
The petition alleges that evidence in the case was “suppressed willfully rather than inadvertently” and was never disclosed to Lawrence’s defense. Those claims are allegations in the petition and have not been ruled on by a court.
Lawrence is represented by attorneys Maxwell and Tillman of Birmingham.
What a Rule 32 petition is
A Rule 32 petition, named for Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure, allows a person to challenge a conviction in the court where the conviction occurred. It is generally used after appeals have become final and gives a defendant a way to return to court.
Trial testimony
During Lawrence’s trial, Hoss Mack, now the Baldwin County sheriff and then with the sheriff’s department, testified about his role in the investigation.
“Primarily in this case at the first part of the case, (I) served as the coordinator for the sheriff’s department coordinating our resources and our assistance with the Foley Police Department. Later in the case, I became more involved when I was asked to process certain items for fingerprints, to document a couple of areas of interest that were evaluated and ultimately conducting an interview with Jarius McNeil,” Mack testified.
