South Dakota man on death row latest appeal denied by judge

A South Dakota man facing the death penalty has had his latest appeal attempt denied. According to court documents, U.S. District Judge Roberto Lange has rejected a writ of habeas corpus filed by the defense of Briley Wayne Piper. Piper was convicted and given the death penalty for the torture and killing of Chester Poage in 2000 near Spearfish. Co-defendants in the case including Elijah page was put to death by the state in 2007 and Darrell Hoadley is serving a life prison sentence. A writ of Habeas Corpus is a request to appear before the court to make an inquiry about his or her detention. Piper is the only inmate in South Dakota currently on death row.