Lance Chandler

Lance Antonio Chandler

In December 1993, Lance Antonio Chandler stood trial from the February 3, 1993 murder of convenient store clerk William Dix. At the time of the murder and trial, Chandler was nineteen. On the night of the shooting, Chandler had drank several beers and used both cocaine and marijuana. Two people testified during the trial on behalf of Chandler to further prove that he had ingested drugs and alcohol on the night of the murder. While testifying on his own behalf, Chandler recalled that "he had consumed almost twelve beers as well as used marijuana and cocaine earlier in the evening and that he was still "high" when he went into Mother Hubbard's. Chandler stated that he did not have "the slightest idea" why he pulled the trigger and insisted that he did not intend to shoot Dix or to kill him.

While Chandler admitted to shooting Dix, he stated that the killing was not planned and that he never meant to kill him. In fact, Chandler testified that he thought there was only one live bullet in the gun, amongst three empty shells. Under oath Chandler stated that he believed he could have fired the gun "at least four times before the gun would fire a live round and that he did not expect the gun to fire when he pulled the trigger the second time." However, despite his testimony, the jury convicted him of capital murder and sentenced him to death.

Chandler appealed on several issues, mainly focusing his sixth amendment right to effective counsel. During closing arguments, the Commonwealth attorney stated, "He supports himself because he is a predator. He is a predator who is following the law of the jungle. He will look upon some creature, some fellow human being that is weak, disabled, passive and he victimizes themàIs he depraved? Absolutely. Is he inhuman? Absolutely. That is just beyond the bounds of decent society. This man has degenerated into a predator and a trophy hunter." At Chandler's request his attorney did not make a final argument. Chandler claims that his attorney should have done more to convince him that a closing argument would be necessary in refuting the Commonwealth's statements and preserving his life. On appeal Chandler argues, ôthat his attorney should have questioned Chandler's competence because Chandler attempted suicide and allegedly suffered hallucinations while in pretrial detention.ö However, he was found competent for trial and his attorney never questioned his judgement despite his depressed state.

Chandler also appealed directly on the Commonwealth's closing remarks, stating that they prejudiced the jury toward the death penalty. Even though during the statement Chandler was referred to as less than human, the Appellate court upheld the trial court's decision to let the remarks stand. They found that "The evidence presented at trial certainly supported the argument that Chandler was a 'predator' and a 'trophy hunter.'" Even assuming that the prosecutor's comments were improper, no reasonable probability exists that the outcome of penalty phase would have been different if the statements had been excluded.

Lance Antonio Chandler entered death row on April 11, 1994 and was executed on August 20, 1998.