Spraggins v. State

Marshall, Presiding Justice.

This is a prolonged criminal prosecution in which the death penalty is being sought against the appellant. He was initially convicted of murder and rape, and he was sentenced to death. On direct appeal, his death sentence was set aside by this court because of errors in the sentencing instructions to the jury. After numerous other proceedings, his convictions and sentences were overturned by a federal district court because of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. At his retrial, the state is again seeking the death penalty. He filed motions to prohibit this on…