Dennis v. State

OPINION

By the Court,

Becker, J.:

The State charged appellant Terry Jess Dennis by information with one count of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon for the March 1999, willful, deliberate and premeditated strangulation murder of Ilona Straumanis. The State subsequently filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty.

On April 16, 1999, Dennis entered a guilty plea, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. A penalty hearing was conducted before a three-judge panel. The panel found that three alleged aggravators (three prior…