State v. Bolinger

FRYE, Justice.

In this appeal we consider defendant’s contentions that the trial court erred in (1) failing to find several mitigating factors; (2) balancing the aggravating and mitigating factors and imposing a life sentence; and (3) accepting a plea of guilty. We reject each of these contentions.

Testimony at the sentencing hearing tended to show the following facts. On 26 September 1984, the deteriorated body of the victim was found in a car parked at the Ramada Inn in Hendersonville, North Carolina. An autopsy revealed substantial injuries to the victim’s head, face and jaw.

On 4 September…