Top court rebuffs cop-killer's appeal -- again

The Minnesota Supreme Court said Thursday that Ramsey County District Court had the right to deny a second appeal by convicted murderer Guy Hathaway in the death of an off-duty police officer 25 years ago.

Hathaway, 46, was convicted in 1984 of first-degree murder in the death of Richard Walton, 43, an off-duty Oakdale officer who was working as a guard at the old Mounds Park Hospital. Walton, 43, was shot on Oct. 24, 1982, while attempting to prevent the armed robbery of the hospital pharmacy.

The Supreme Court first upheld Hathaway's conviction in December 1984. He appealed again and was denied an evidentiary hearing and an appointed attorney by the lower court.

The high court ruled Thursday that he wasn't entitled to an appointed attorney on his second appeal and that he knew or should have known about the evidence that he said warranted a hearing at the time of his first appeal.

PAT PHEIFER