State high court to hear Inman case

By Cindy Landrum  

SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 12:01 p.m. (0)

South Carolina’s Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in the appeal of the man who pleaded guilty to raping and killing a Clemson University student in 2006 and was sentenced to death.

Jerry Buck Inman, who told the judge he wanted to die for the murder of Tiffany Souers, is appealing his guilty plea and sentence.

Inman contends his guilty plea was conditional because his defense counsel maintained that Inman was entitled to be sentenced by a jury despite of his plea. In addition, the appeal contends the judge should have declared a mistrial because prosecutorial misconduct based on the solicitor’s treatment of the defense’s expert witness.

The hearing is at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 23.