Judge denies new trial, sentence for Sumter man

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — A 31-year-old Sumter man sentenced to death for a 2004 killing spree will stay on South Carolina’s death row.

The Item of Sumter reports (http://bit.ly/WGOncJ) that Circuit Judge R. Ferrell Cothran on Monday denied Stephen Corey Bryant’s request for post-conviction relief.

Bryant had argued that his trial attorneys did not present evidence or testimony from a witness who could have helped him. But Cothran said Bryant’s arguments were not strong enough to warrant a new trial or sentencing.

Bryant has already lost an appeal to the state Supreme Court. He was sentenced to death after pleading guilty to killing three men during a 2004 shooting spree.

The victims had no link to each other, and prosecutors said Bryant stalked the men and attacked them when they were defenseless.

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Information from: The Item, http://www.theitem.com