Bell v. State

WISE, Presiding Judge.

The appellant, Taurus Lamont Bell, was convicted of the capital offense of arson-murder, a violation of § 13A-5-40(a)(9), Ala.Code 1975. The trial court sentenced him to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole. Bell did not file any post-judgment motions. This appeal followed.

The State presented evidence that, on the night of February 3, 2000, the victim, Patricia Woodruff, was preparing for a trip the following morning to visit a casino with friends and family members. At some point before daybreak the next morning, the victim’s house was consumed by…