Rector v. State

George Rose Smith, Justice.

Ricky Rector argues two grounds for reversal in appealing from a verdict and judgment sentencing him to life imprisonment for the first-degree murder of Arthur Criswell. Neither contention is meritorious.

First, trial counsel filed a pre-trial motion asking the court to find Rector mentally incompetent to stand trial as a result of brain injury caused by Rector’s having shot himself some time after he killed Criswell. At the hearing on the motion the expert testimony was in conflict. The defense witnesses testified that Rector’s brain injury caused retrograde…