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NE Sup. Court says Nikko Jenkins' death sentence will stand

Posted at 11:19 AM, Jul 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-19 12:42:08-04

LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) — The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed the Douglas County District Court convictions and sentencings for Nikko Jenkins.

Jenkins is currently on death row for the murders of Jorge Ruiz, Juan Pena, Curtis Bradford, and Andrea Kruger in a 10-day span in August 2013 shortly after being released from prison.

Court documents indicate he argued that he was not competent to enter pleas of no contest on his own behalf, and that he shouldn't have been allowed to proceed in his own defense. Jenkins also said the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment, and that the three-judge panel did not give meaningful consideration to his claims of mental illness.

The Nebraska Supreme Court stated that testimony and evidence was given as to whether Jenkins had an actual mental illness or if he was faking.

"In light of the conflicting evidence, they gave weight to the expert evidence reflecting that Jenkins suffered from a personality disorder and was feigning mental illness. We find no error in that regard."

"We cannot say that the district court abused its discretion in finding Jenkins to be competent to waive counsel, to enter no contest pleas, to proceed to sentencing, and to be sentenced to death." The Supreme Court concluded."

Jenkins is currently housed at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.