Skipper v. State

Hunt, Justice.

This is a death penalty case. Appellant, Gilbert Skipper, Jr., was convicted by a jury in Appling County of murder, aggravated sodomy and rape. He appeals. For reasons which follow, we affirm the conviction on all counts, but we vacate the death sentence and remand for a resentencing.

1. The evidence, considered in the light most favorable to the state, showed the following:. The victim, William Randall Morris, along with his wife Gretchen and their infant child, lived in a rented house with no telephone in rural Appling County, near the defendant. Approximately two weeks prior…