ATLANTA, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The Georgia Supreme Court Monday reinstated a death sentence for a man convicted of the 1994 murders of his ex-girlfriend and her friend.
A lower court judge overseeing Scotty Garnell Morrow's appeal ruled his defense attorneys were so ineffective during his 1999 trial's sentencing phase that re-sentencing was needed, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Justice Hugh Thompson, speaking on behalf of a unanimous supreme court, overturned that ruling and reinstated the death penalty against Morrow.
Morrow's lawyers "generally performed adequately," Thompson wrote. "The absence of trial counsel's professional deficiencies … would not in reasonable probability have resulted in a different outcome in either phase of Morrow's trial."
Morrow was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend Barbara Ann Young and her friend, Tonya Woods.
On Dec. 29, 1994, Morrow entered Young's home while she, Woods, LaToya Horne and two of Young's children were in the kitchen.
Woods told Morrow that Young wanted nothing to do with the man anymore, court filings state. Morrow then shot Woods in the stomach and Horne in the arm.
Morrow then followed Young into her bedroom, beat her and shot her in the head, killing her.
Morrow returned to the kitchen, shot Woods in the head, killing her, and Horne twice before cutting the telephone line and leaving the house.
Horne got to a neighbor's house and Morrow, after he was arrested, confessed to the shootings, prosecutors said.
