Attorney General's News Release

November 14, 1996

Federal appeals court rules today on two capital punishment cases

Jefferson City, Mo. — The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this morning affirmed the convictions and sentences of Alan Jeffrey Bannister and Elroy Preston, who are on Missouri's death row for murders committed in the early 1980s.

Bannister was found guilty and given the death sentence for the Aug. 21, 1982, contract killing of Darrell Ruestman in Newton County. Bannister had been scheduled to be executed in December 1994 after his first federal habeas corpus petition was denied, but he was granted a stay by the court of appeals. That court today ruled on Bannister's second habeas petition after hearing arguments last November from the Attorney General's Office and Bannister's attorney.

The appeals court today also denied the petition of Preston, who was given the death penalty for the Sept. 22, 198,0 murder of Willie Richardson in north St. Louis. After a night of heavy drinking, Preston stabbed to death both Richardson and Betty Klein, who lived upstairs in a house shared with Preston's brother. Preston was given a life sentence for the murder of Betty Klein.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818