Charles Bester v. State of Mississippi

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI

LAMAR, Justice,

for the Court:

¶ 1. Charles Bester pleadéd guilty to forcible rape, and the trial judge sentenced him to life imprisonment. ' Bester petitioned’for post-conviction relief (PCR), arguing that the forcible-rape statute allows only a jury to impose a life sentence, and absent a recommendation from a jury, a trial judge is powerless to impose such a sentence. The trial court and the Court of Appeals rejected this argument and denied Bester’s PCR motion. We agree with both courts and affirm.

PACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 2. The following facts are adopted from the…