Ineffective Assistance Claim Saves Estonian From Death Sentence

An Estonian immigrant, who was given asylum in the US after escaping from the Russian army, but was later convicted for murdering the California woman who provided him a place to live, is entitled to relief from the death penalty, the Ninth Circuit said.

Tauno Waidla’s lawyer provided ineffective assistance by failing to adequately investigate mitigating factors during the sentencing phase of his trial, the per curiam opinion said Tuesday.

Avo and Viivi Piirisild were from Estonia and they took Waidla in. But Waidla, who was in his late teens, wasn’t interested in finding a job or going to school. ...