Nichols v. State

First degree rape; sentence, thirty years' imprisonment.

During the early morning hours of September 6, 1980, appellant forced his way into the locked townhouse of the prosecutrix, located in Forestdale in Jefferson County, made his way to her upstairs bedroom, and raped her.

The prosecutrix stated that her assailant was a lean and muscular black male. The assailant repeated several times, "Keep your eyes closed." By complying, the prosecutrix did not see him and, thus, could not identify him by sight. However, throughout the ordeal, the assailant spoke in a very distinct soft voice and used no…