Helton v. State

OPINION

COOPER, Chief Justice.

Petitioner, Dennis Helton, was convicted of second degree murder for the slaying of his wife, Linda Helton, and was sentenced to serve fifteen years in the penitentiary. The Court of Criminal Appeals, with one judge dissenting, affirmed the conviction. This court granted certiorari, primarily to determine if the trial judge, as the thirteenth juror, approved the verdict of the jury.

Petitioner and Linda Helton were married on three different occasions. The break-up of the first two marriages was due to Mrs. Helton’s association with Jerry Lawson. After the second…