Convicted killer appeals sentence in Madison County

JACKSON, Tenn. — A man convicted in a 2004 murder in Madison County will serve his sentence. A judge denied his request Friday for post-conviction relief.

Randy Rice will remain behind bars. Judge Kyle Atkins denied his request Friday to have his conviction overturned or to be granted an appeal based on lack of evidence.

“I’m still at a standstill right now,” Queca Rice, Rice’s sister, said.

Rice’s sister, mother and children listened as he testified.

Rice argued several claims including that he had ineffective counsel when he was convicted, did not get a lawyer when he asked for one, and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

“I feel like he didn’t get a fair trial,” Betty Rice, Rice’s mother, said.

The judge ruled there is no proof Rice’s attorney did anything wrong, so his conviction stands. “We’re disappointed with it. However, we understand,” John Hamilton, Rice’s attorney, said. “My client certainly understands that his burden of proof today was very high.”

In 2009, a jury convicted Rice of killing David Martin in August 2004. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 12 years.

Queca said her brother’s fight is not over. “There were more opinions in this case than facts,” she said.

Hamilton said his client has the right to appeal the ruling. Prosecutors declined to comment after Friday’s hearing.