State v. Starnes

This is a direct appeal in a death penalty case. Appellant Norman Starnes was charged with the murder of Bill Welborn and Jared Champlain.1 At trial, Appellant represented himself. A jury found Appellant guilty of both murders and recommended the death penalty. In this direct appeal, Appellant argues the trial court erred in failing to give a voluntary manslaughter charge, raises issues regarding a capital defendant’s right to self-representation, and asserts he did not knowingly and voluntarily waive his right to counsel. We affirm.

I

Appellant owned a restaurant (“the restaurant”) in Pelion,…