U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Miss. murder case

Published 6:46 pm Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear the post conviction claim of convicted murderer Jonathan McGriggs.

McGriggs pleaded guilty in 2001 to murder in the shooting death of 78-year-old W.Q. Bradley. Bradley’s body was found on the front porch of his home in the Carpenter community of Copiah County in 1998.

The Mississippi Supreme Court denied to hear McGriggs’ appeal in 2004. McGriggs also was denied federal appeals in 2005 and 2006.

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Prosecutors said Bradley had been shot once in the chest. Prosecutors said the bullet apparently went through a screen on the front door of the small wood-frame home before striking Bradley.

McGriggs was sentenced to life in prison.

McGriggs has claimed that he was improperly sentenced. McGriggs said he pleaded guilty expecting to receive a life sentence with parole. He said prosecutors failed to explain that clearly to the trial judge. Prosecutors said McGriggs did not object to the sentence.