Dearman v. State

'After a trial by jury, Michael Dearman was convicted of murder and auto theft. The trial court sentenced him to consecutive terms of sixty-five years and three years respectively. In this direct appeal, Dearman raises two issues for our review which we rephrase as follows: (1) did the trial court err in refusing to give Dear-man's tendered instructions on lesser included offenses; and (2) did the trial court err in admitting an audiotape recording of a statement Dearman gave police? Finding no error, we affirm.

Facts

On August 26, 1998, Floyd McClendon's nude and partially decomposed body was…