Ga. Supreme Court Reinstates Death Penalty for Man in Lilburn Murder, Robbery

The Supreme Court of Georgia has reversed a lower court's ruling and reinstated the death penalty for a man convicted of a 1993 murder and robbery in Lilburn.

On Monday, June 17, the high court released its opinion on Michael Wade Nance's fate.

In 1997, he was found guilty of robbing the Tucker Federal Bank in Lilburn, and then killing Gabor Balogh as he backed out of a parking space at a nearby store while Nance was trying to escape.

-- To read the entire court opinion, which includes case background, click here. --

Since then, Nance's convictions and sentencing have been challenged and altered several times. His death sentence was first reversed in 2000, when the court said there was a juror serving that was "inadequately qualified."

The death sentence was reinstated, only to be challenged by Nance later. He attested that his counsel did not present information in his favor, including evidence affirming a reduced mental state. In 2008, there was an evidentiary hearing on the matter.

And, in 2012 a court upheld his convictions, but vacated Nance's death sentence. But, on Monday, Georgia's Supreme Court reinstated that punishment.

In the opinion, the court said "there is no reasonable probability that the outcome would have been different" had defense attorneys presented information about Nance's mental capacity.

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