Stevenson v. State

HOLLAND, Justice.

This is an appeal after a capital murder trial and penalty hearing where the defendant-appellant, David D. Stevenson (“Stevenson”), was sentenced to death. On November 13,1995, Stevenson and his co-defendant, Michael Manley (“Manley”), were arrested and charged with the murder of Kristopher Heath (“Heath”). Heath’s death had occurred earlier that day. After a joint trial in the Superior Court, a jury found both Manley and Stevenson guilty of Murder in the First Degree and related offenses. 1 The State then sought the death penalty for both defendants.

At the penalty phase of…