McIlwain v. State

WOODLEY, Judge.

The offense is murder; the punishment, death.

The badly decomposed body of Sergeant Robert John Roeske was found in a locker of his room in Barracks 3419 at the Amarillo Air Force Base on July 6, 1965.

Evidence was offered showing that his death was caused by choking and strangulation with a necktie, as alleged in the indictment.

A written confession of appellant, made to Detective Lieutenant Charles Hollis of the Amarillo Police Department on the night of July 15, 1965, was admitted in evidence following a hearing before the court in the jury’s absence.

At the hearing, appellant…