State v. Brown

OPINION

Justice FLAHERTY, for the Court.

On March 8, 2001, a jury found the defendant, James Brown, guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree sexual assault, larceny under $500, and selling leased property over $500. After it deliberated further, as it is required to do under G.L. 1956 § 11-23-2(4) and G.L.1956 § 12-19.2 — 1, 1 the jury found that the murder of the victim, Pamela Plante, involved torture and/or aggravated battery. After he denied Brown’s motion for a new trial, the trial justice sentenced him to life imprisonment without parole on the murder count. The trial justice also…