State ex rel. Walter Barton, Relator v. William Stange

Summary

The court denied habeas relief, holding that Barton’s additional impeachment evidence and competing blood-spatter testimony did not establish actual innocence under either the gateway or freestanding standards. It also held that Barton failed to make the required threshold showing that a mental disorder prevented him from rationally understanding the reasons for his execution and failed to establish incompetence under Missouri law. No separate opinions were issued.