COBBINS TERRY
Terry Cobbins’ request for post-conviction relief was denied Wednesday.
Cobbins was convicted by a jury in Marion County in the first degree murder of Teresa Miller in January of 2011. His conviction was upheld by the Iowa Court of Appeals in 2013 and the Supreme Court denied further review. It was determined that Terry Cobbins was hired by Michael Miller, Teresa’s husband to execute Ms. Miller. Cobbins contended in his pleadings that he was denied effective assistance of counsel, and that the Court lacked jurisdiction. Judge Mertz denied Cobbins’ claims. Mertz said in the decision Cobbins had not demonstrated that the trial result would have been different had counsel handled the trial differently. Even if everything else had gone Cobbins’ way, his attorneys could not have explained all of Cobbins’ statements to others as to whether the statements were bluster or true confessions. The post conviction relief hearing was prosecuted by Ed Bull. Bull says his office stands willing, able and prepared to ensure that Terry Cobbins spends the rest of his life inside a prison cell.