Analysis Of The Vonlee Titlow V. Case

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Vonlee Titlow was tried for murder when she and her aunt Billie Rodgers killed Billie's wealthy husband Donald Rodgers. The prosecution Presented Titlow with a plea bargain of manslaughter, for her testimony against her aunt Billie in her trial. Shortly before the Trial of Titlow's aunt Billie, she had a conversation with an officer, who instructed her not to take the plea if she was, in fact, innocent. After this conversation, Titlow got rid of her current lawyer for new counsel in her case. Toca who was brought in as this new counsel fought to get the length of the plea reduced to a lower term. The prosecution rejected this Plea and withdrew the original plea since Titlow would not self-incriminate in the case against Billie. Without the testimony of Titlow, Billie was acquitted. When Titlow was tried for murder in the first degree the court could not get a conviction for first-degree murder but was able to get a conviction for murder in the second degree, and would be facing 20 …show more content…

The Michigan court of appeals denied the motion on the grounds that she had told Toca she was innocent on top of passing a polygraph on questions regarding of her innocence. After the Appeal was rejected by the state of Michigan, Titlow filed for federal habeas corpus. The District court reviewed the case and found that The State court of Michigan appeals court had satisfied the requirements set forth in the Antiterrorism and effective death penalty act of 1996, and were correct in their judgment. The sixth circuit of appeals however viewed the case differently and reversed this decision. Doing so on the grounds that there was no evidence support that Titlow knew what the consequences for withdrawing the plea. The State at this time was forced to re-offer the plea to Titlow. Even though no testimony against Billie could be provided, due to her death during Titlows legal