Ploof v. State

STEELE, Chief Justice.

A jury convicted Gary Ploof of Murder in the First Degree for killing his wife and a Superior Court judge sentenced him to death. Ploof raises five arguments in this direct appeal. His most compelling argument, one of first impression in Delaware, involves claims of procedural and substantive constitutional defects in Delaware’s sentencing scheme resulting from the trial judge’s refusal to bifurcate Ploofs penalty hearing. After carefully reviewing Ploofs contentions, we find no constitutional deficiency in Delaware’s sentencing framework, no abuse of discretion or legal…