State v. Butler

Harwell, Justice:

On March 11, 1981, appellant was convicted by an Orange-burg County jury of murdering Thakor Patel, of committing an assault and battery upon Ramila Patel with intent to kill her, and of unlawfully carrying a pistol. After finding that appellant committed the murder during the commission of a robbery while he was armed with a deadly weapon, the jury recommended the death penalty. The trial court adopted the recommendation and sentenced the appellant to death. This case consolidates the appellant’s direct appeal and mandatory review of the death sentence.

On October 20, 1980,…