(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — The aggravated murder conviction and death sentence of a former Cleveland-area man who shot and killed his wife and brother-in-law in the old Cuyahoga County Courthouse in 1992 will stand, following a decision today from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati.

The case of Awkal v. Mitchell was reviewed “en banc,” by the full Sixth Circuit Court. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray sought the en banc review after a three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit threw out Abdul Awkal’s convictions and death sentence last year, ruling that Awkal’s attorney failed to present an adequate insanity defense to the jury.

The full court issued its opinion this morning. By a vote of ten to four, the Sixth Circuit agreed with Cordray and upheld the 51 year-old Awkal’s conviction and death sentence.

“(N)othing about the killings or the time leading up to them suggests that Awkal was in the grips of psychosis.  To the contrary, the record shows that he had engaged in detailed planning for the killings and their aftermath” the Sixth Circuit wrote. “In light of the overwhelming evidence against him, Awkal had little basis for a realistic hope of a successful insanity defense.”

“We are very pleased with the Court’s decision,” said Attorney General Cordray. “Without any provocation, Mr. Awkal shot his wife and brother-in-law as they arrived for a reconciliation session in the Cleveland courthouse. The jury’s death sentence was appropriate given the horrific nature of these crimes and their impact on the victims’ families.”

To read today’s decision in full, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/AwkalJuly2010Decision.

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