State v. Blackwell

CHIEF JUSTICE BEATTY:

This is a consolidated direct appeal and mandatory review from a sentence of death.1 A jury convicted Ricky Lee Blackwell of kidnapping and killing eight-year-old Heather Brooke Center (“Brooke”), the daughter of his ex-wife’s boyfriend, and recommended a sentence of death. Following sentencing, Blackwell appealed to this Court. In his appeal, Blackwell contends the trial court erred in: (1) finding him eligible for the death penalty despite evidence of mental retardation;2 (2) failing to disqualify a juror for cause; (3) denying his Batson3 challenge; (4) prohibiting him…