Elliott v. State

Appellant was indicted for murder in the first degree by a grand jury impaneled in the circuit court of St. Clair County (Pell City Division). He was represented by three attorneys, residents of St. Clair County, who were appointed by the trial court, after it was ascertained that the defendant was an indigent and unable to employ counsel.

Defendant, on arraignment before the circuit court, entered pleas of “not guilty” and “not guilty by reason of insanity.” Thereafter, he withdrew these pleas and entered a plea of guilty to second degree murder.

The jury heard some evidence as to the…