MENA — A Polk County prosecutor says he’s solely responsible for the stalled appeal of a death-row inmate who was convicted of killing his niece.
Prosecuting Attorney Tim Williamson says he has completed an order and forwarded it to Karl Roberts’ defense attorneys and Circuit Judge J.W. Looney.
Roberts was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to die for the 1999 death of 12-year-old Andria Brewer.
In February 2008, Roberts’ attorneys filed a petition alleging among other things that Roberts couldn’t receive a fair trial in Polk County. Looney issued a ruling rejecting the appeal in January 2009, and asked Williamson to prepare an order based on his findings.
Since the ruling isn’t official without an order, Roberts’ lawyers can’t appeal Looney’s decision.