State v. LaBarge

Littlejohn, Justice:

Ronald George LaBarge was convicted of the murder and armed robbery of Julian Johnson and was sentenced to life imprisonment and twenty-five years, respectively. For the purposes of this appeal the facts surrounding Johnson’s murder are not important and will not be detailed. We reverse, finding that errors occurred during trial which entitle La-Barge to a new trial.

Following an unsuccessful motion for a separate trial, LaBarge was ordered a trial along with a codefendant, Terry Lee Jackson. It was the theory of the State that Jackson fired the fatal shot and that LaBarge…