McConnell v. State

*1048OPINION2

This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction of first-degree murder, pursuant to a guilty plea, and from a sentence of death, *1049pursuant to a jury verdict. Appellant Robert Lee McConnell shot Brian Pierce to death in August 2002. The State charged McConnell with murder and sought the death penalty. After his preliminary examination, McConnell was allowed to represent himself. He then pleaded guilty. He presented a case in mitigation at his penalty hearing, but the jury returned a sentence of death. Initially, he moved to waive his appeal but eventually authorized his appointed…