Man on death row for killing SC student appeals

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A man on death row for raping and strangling a Clemson University student is asking South Carolina’s top court to throw out his sentence because he claims prosecutors intimidated a key witness.

Lawyers for 40-year-old Jerry Buck Inman will appear before the state Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Authorities say Inman broke into Tiffany Souers’ apartment near Clemson’s campus in May 2006, strangling her with a bikini top. Souers was from Ladue, Mo.

Much of Inman’s appeal centers on a social worker who was supposed to testify about Inman’s mental health problems.

Solicitor Bob Ariail suggested she could face charges for practicing without a license. Marti Loring said she felt intimidated, but a judge refused to declare a mistrial or toss Ariail and his prosecutors off the case.