Court rejects appeal of death-row inmate

CINCINNATI (AP) — A divided federal appeals court Tuesday rejected the appeal of a death row inmate who argued he didn’t understand his legal right to remain silent before telling police he set an apartment fire that killed five children.

William L. Garner appeared normal and coherent when officers read Miranda warnings at least two times before he confessed, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.

Garner also signed and dated a form expressly waiving his rights, Judge John M. Rogers said in writing for the 10-judge majority.

Garner, now 36, told police he set the 1992 fire to cover up a burglary in which he stole a VCR, TV set and other electronic equipment from an apartment in Cincinnati where six children were sleeping. One child survived; Garner was convicted of five counts of aggravated murder.

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