State v. Manes

PREWITT, Judge.

Following trial by juiy, Defendant was found guilty of sodomy and rape and was sentenced to consecutive terms of life imprisonment on both counts. Defendant appeals, presenting two points relied on.

For his first point, Defendant asserts that the trial court erred in determining that Defendant had decided not to testify and then proceeded to conclude the trial after Defendant had left and had not returned to the courtroom. The trial court had excused the jury to hold a hearing to determine if Defendant was going to testify. The jury was excused about 1:30 or 1:45 p.m., and after…