State v. Cooper

Appellant Kamathene A. Cooper was convicted of murder, forgery and armed robbery in connection with the death of Rheupert W. Stewart and sentenced to death. His direct appeal and mandatory sentence review are consolidated for purposes of this opinion pursuant to S. C. Code Ann. § 16-3-25 (1976) as amended. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

Appellant raises numerous allegations of error of which we address the following:

I. Whether the trial judge erred in qualifying as a juror a uniformed officer of the South Carolina Highway Patrol;

II. Whether the trial judge erred regarding his comments…