Killer seeks pardon; blames ex-lawyer

ATLANTA, May 29 (UPI) -- Curtis Osborne is asking Georgia officials to commute his death sentence because his attorney 18 years ago deliberately put up a flimsy defense, lawyers say.

Osborn's current attorneys say his former attorney, Johnny Mostiler, who died of a heart attack in 2000, offered a paltry defense on his client's behalf out of his prejudice against blacks, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday.

Mostiler, who was white, did not tell Osborne, who is African-American, there was an offer for Osborne to plead guilty in return for a life sentence, Osborne's lawyers contend.

"The system breaks down when it's infected or corrupted by racism," said Bill Hoffmann, who is representing Osborne. "It's a fundamental principle of our justice system that individuals be given zealous representation. It's particularly outrageous that Mr. Osborne was denied that because of racial bias."

In 2006, the federal appeals court in Atlanta rejected similar claims against Mostiler's representation of Osborne, who was sentenced to death for fatally shooting Linda Lisa Seaborne and Arthur Jones on Aug. 7, 1990.

Osborne is to be executed by lethal injection Wednesday.