State v. Hamilton

MARTIN, Justice.

On 19 February 1996 defendant Jerry Lee Hamilton (defendant) was indicted for the murder of Joy Jones Goebel (Goebel). Defendant was tried capitally at the 10 February 1997 Criminal Session of Superior Court, Richmond County. The jury found defendant guilty of first-degree murder on the basis of premeditation and deliberation. Following a capital sentencing proceeding, the jury recommended a sentence of death, and the trial court entered judgment in accordance with that recommendation.

The State’s evidence tended to show the following: According to the testimony of defendant’s…