Batton v. State

Clarke, Chief Justice.

Appellant was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for the murder and armed robbery of Lincoln Lindburgh Tanner and to terms of years, to run concurrently with the life sentences, for burglary and theft by taking of a motor vehicle belonging to Tanner. * 1 The state sought the death penalty in this case, but the jury hopelessly deadlocked during the sentencing phase, and the judge declared a mistrial and sentenced appellant to life for the murder.

The victim, appellant’s employer, was killed on his blueberry farm in Bacon County on December 21, 1987. His death was…