The court's ruling Monday was unanimous. It reversed a lower-court judge's ruling that Terrell's death sentence should be set aside because his lawyers provided ineffective assistance of counsel.

According to prosecutors, John Watson, who was a friend of Terrell?s mother, found out on June 20, 1992, that Terrell had stolen 10 of his checks and began using them. Watson told Terrell to repay him repay him a significant portion of the stolen money within two days.

According to testimony, on the due day, Terrell shot Watson four times, and later beat him on the face and head.