Johnson v. State

Marshall, Justice.

The appellant, Johnny L. Johnson, was convicted of murder, rape, kidnapping, and aggravated assault in the Chatham Superior Court. He received the death penalty for the murder conviction, a life-imprisonment sentence for the rape conviction, a 20-year sentence for the kidnapping conviction, and a 10-year sentence for the aggravated-assault conviction. His case is here on direct appeal and for mandatory review of the death sentence imposed.

I. Summary of the Evidence

In July of 1974 the appellant Johnson was stationed at a military base in Beaufort, S. C. He and Jerry Sprouse…