By John Lyon
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the capital murder conviction of a Monticello man and granted a motion by his attorney to withdraw from the case.

The court rejected an appeal by Ross Lamar Burnett Jr., who is serving a life sentence in the April 2, 2001 stabbing death of Pam Knight, 42, also of Monticello.

Burnett, now 66, argued that he did not receive a fair trial because he received ineffective assistance from his attorney. He asked the Supreme Court to overturn a Drew County Circuit Court ruling that his allegations had no merit.

Burnett claimed his attorney failed to show that he stabbed Knight in self defense; failed to introduce evidence of Knight’s propensity for violence; failed to call witnesses that Burnett wanted him to call; failed to prevent the admission of evidence that should not have been admitted; filed frivolous motions; failed to request defense investigators or experts; and confused the jury with misleading remarks.

In its opinion Thursday, the Supreme Court said Burnett did not present evidence to support his arguments during a hearing in circuit court and did not show that his attorney’s actions prejudiced the outcome of the trial.

“Counsel is presumed effective and allegations without factual substantiation are insufficient to overcome that presumption,” the court said in a per curiam order.

Burnett’s attorney, J. Brent Standridge, asked for permission to withdraw, saying he believed Burnett’s appeal had no merit. The Supreme Court agreed and granted Standridge’s motion.