Convicted murderer had asked nation’s high court to hear appeal
Published 4:20 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused hear an appeal from William T. “Billy” McCain, who was convicted in 2005 for the slaying of his girlfriend.
McCain was sentenced to life in prison in Hinds County Circuit Court for the 2004 beating death of Ginger Willis.
The state Court of Appeals upheld McCain’s conviction in 2007. The Mississippi Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.
According to court records, McCain said in a videotaped statement played for jurors that he smoked crystal methamphetamine, took crack cocaine and went without sleep for days before the slaying at the Ridgeview Apartments off U.S. Highway 80 in Jackson.
McCain said he didn’t remember going to the kitchen, getting a knife and repeatedly stabbing Willis. Detectives said they found the knife in a closet in the apartment.
McCain argued that prosecutors failed to prove he killed Willis.
The Appeals Court said prosecutors had evidence that McCain repeatedly beat Willis with the hydraulic jack, then walked to the kitchen where he got a knife and repeatedly stabbed her. The court said there also was evidence that McCain hid the jack and the knife.