State of Arizona, Respondent v. Travis Wade Amaral, Petitioner

Summary

The Arizona Supreme Court held that Amaral did not present a colorable claim of newly discovered evidence warranting an evidentiary hearing on his post-conviction petition. Although later psychological and neurological research provided additional support for characteristics associated with juvenile behavior, those characteristics were known and considered at Amaral's sentencing, and the alleged evidence therefore probably would not have changed his sentence. The court vacated the court of appeals' decision and affirmed dismissal of the petition.