State v. Artis

MARTIN, Justice.

Defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree of Joann Brockman and sentenced to death. Our review of the guilt and penalty phases of his trial reveals no prejudicial error.

Evidence adduced by both defendant and the state at defendant’s trial tended to show the following events occurring in Red Springs on 22 October 1983:

On that day at about 9:30 a.m., the victim’s aunt, Alice McLaughlin, observed defendant walking up the road towards Joann’s home. Mrs. McLaughlin watched defendant knock on Joann’s door and subsequently enter. About an hour later, Mrs. McLaughlin saw…