Whalen v. United States

After a jury trial, the petitioner was convicted in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of rape, and of killing the same victim in the perpetration of rape. He was sentenced to consecutive terms of imprisonment of 20 years to life for first-degree murder, and of 15 years to fife for rape. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions and the sentences. 379 A. 2d 1152.1 We brought *686the case here to consider the contention that the imposition of cumulative punishments for the two offenses was contrary to federal statutory and constitutional law. 441 U. S. 904.

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Unde…