State v. Laws

Neely, Justice:

These cases, consolidated on appeal, present questions pertaining to criminal proceedings against juveniles pri- or to the enactment of the new Juvenile Proceedings Act, W.Va. Code, 49-5-1 et seq. [1978]. Specifically appellants contend that they did not voluntarily, intelligently, and knowingly waive their constitutional rights before giving written and oral confessions to the crime charged; that their cases were erroneously tried in the criminal jurisdiction of the court after moving for transfer to the juvenile court; and, that the court below gave instructions which placed…