Coley v. State

WILNER, Judge.

After a joint trial with two co-defendants before a Baltimore City jury, appellant was convicted of felony murder. At sentencing on November 26, 1982, Judge Hammerman, who presided over the trial, explained that appellant was entitled to more consideration than his co-defendants because he alone confessed to the crime, thus aiding in the convictions of the others, and because he alone expressed remorse. The judge imposed the maximum sentences the law allows on the two co-defendants. In contrast, instead of giving appellant the maximum sentence of life in prison, Judge Hammerman…