State v. Coyle

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

*201CLIFFORD, J.

A jury convicted defendant of the purposeful murder of Seth Lemberg, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:ll-3a(l), and the unlawful possession of a weapon for an illegal purpose, contrary to N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(a). Following a penalty-phase proceeding on the capital-murder conviction, the court sentenced defendant to death. On the illegal-possession offense, the court sentenced defendant to a term of ten years and imposed a Violent Crimes Compensation Board fine. Defendant’s appeal of the capital-murder conviction comes to this Court as of right under…