State v. Williams

OPINION

DYER, Chief Justice.

This case filed pursuant to our post-conviction statutes, T.C.A. § 40-3801 et seq., comes to this Court by grant of writ of certiorari directed to the Court of Criminal *520Appeals. In this opinion James Thomas Williams will be referred to as defendant, and the State of Tennessee as the State.

On April 17, 1970, defendant, represented by competent counsel, entered a plea of guilty to the crime of murder in the first degree with the understanding the State would recommend to the jury empaneled to pass upon the issues that the sentence be life in prison. When the jury…