MS:Supreme Court Rules in favor of 71-Year-Old Harvell Richardson in Self Defense Case

I recall this case from 2009.  The couple let a homeless man into their home, to help him.  Things quickly went bad.  The couple became fearful as he bragged about his past murders.  From Findlaw.com:

¶ 2. Because Rudy Quilon was homeless following his release from prison, Harvill Richardson permitted Quilon to move into his home while he got back on his feet. Over the next five months, Quilon became increasingly unwelcome as he bragged about having been convicted for murder and armed robbery, his previous experiences as a gang member, and killing a “snitch” in prison. He warned that he could harm those who upset him.

You have to wonders why the prosecutor wanted to put Richardson in prison so badly.    Janeslawblog.com says prosecutorial misconduct may have been involved:

Since no good deed goes unpunished, Quilon begins a reign of terror that ends only when Richardson shoots Quilon after ordering Quilon to leave.  Richardson claims self defense but, as is all too common in the courts of our state, his ability to present that defense is sorely limited by the trial court. Issues include: 1) court’s refusal to allow Richardson to elicit evidence of Quilon’s prior conviction and his conduct; 2) judicial bias and prosecutorial misconduct including the prosecution’s making false statements during closing argument; 3) refusal to allow Richardon to elicit evidence of his PTSD.  Richardson’s brief.  State’s brief.

The Supreme Court found that the Harrison County judge had erred.  The prosecutors appealed that ruling, again to the Supreme Court, on different grounds.   Four months later, the Court rejected that appeal as well. 

Richardson had never been in trouble with the law before.  The man he shot,  Rudy Quilon, was 55 with a violent criminal history.

Richardson was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for the fatal shooting of Rudy Quillon, 55, Oct. 20, 2009, at Richardson’s home on Old Highway 67.

It reminds me of the Harold Fish case in Arizona.   Harold Fish was convicted by a prosecutor with an agenda.   The legislature passed legislation designed to give Fish a new trial, at least three times.   Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed two bills, and the Supreme Court ruled that a bill did not apply, because Harold was convicted before the bill was passed.   It was only after Janet Napolitano was recruited by the Obama Administration, that the legislature was able to pass a bill and have it signed by Governor Jan Brewer.   Fish was released after three years in  prison.

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