Fourth Circuit requires writ of habeas corpus in Richmond murder case

In Lee v. Clarke, the Fourth Circuit in an opinion by Judge Gregory, joined by Judges Motz and Wynn, reversed the denial of the petitioner's claim for a writ of habeas corpus, concluding that that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by his lawyer's failure to request a "heat of passion" jury instruction in his murder case, which was tried in the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond in 2008.