Joseph Burns, also known as JoJo, was found guilty of one count of capital murder while engaged in the commission of armed robbery on September 5th, 1996. He was sentenced to death the next day. Burns’ original execution date was October 11th, 1996.

Burns and his legal team filed a number of appeals and motions for both retrial and rehearing. All were denied. Burns was also denied a writ of certiorari by the United States Supreme Court in June of 1999. Finally, Burns and his legal team filed for post-conviction relief citing the failure of the court to call multiple witnesses during Burns’ trial. This was denied and Burns was executed on August 21st, 2010.

via Joseph Daniel BURNS, a/k/a “Jojo” Burns v. STATE of Mississippi (No. 96-DP-01088-SCT), JOSEPH DANIEL BURNS a/k/a 'JOJO' BURNS v.STATE OF MISSISSIPPI (NO. 1999-DR-01392-SCT), and JOSEPH DANIEL BURNS a/k/a "JO JO" BURNS v.STATE OF MISSISSIPPI (NO. 2003-CA-00447-SCT).