State v. Grooms

BURNETT, Justice:

This case concerns the burden of proof by which a defendant must establish a “credible history of criminal domestic violence” in order to obtain the earlier parole eligibility date provided by South Carolina Code Ann. § 16-25-90 (Supp. 1999). We affirm the trial court.

FACTS

Appellant was indicted for the murder of her live-in boyfriend, Stephon George (George or the decedent). She pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. After the trial judge accepted her plea, 1 appellant offered evidence of a history of criminal domestic violence against her by the decedent pursuant to §…