Catoe v. United States

VINSON, Associate Justice.

Appellant (defendant) was convicted of murder and rape. On the latter count, the jury’s verdict included the death penalty. 1

Nearly all of the evidence proving both the crime and the defendant the perpetrator comes from his oral admissions against interest and his written confession. We summarize the substance of his statements. The victim opened a conversation with defendant on the sidewalk outside of her apartment. She asked defendant if he would do some work for her, since she could not find the janitor, and since she was in a hurry to have the apartment looking…