State v. Poindexter

PARKER, Justice.

Defendant was indicted on 23 February 1998 for the first-degree murder of Wanda Luther Coltrane. Defendant was tried capitally and found guilty of first-degree murder on the basis of premeditation and deliberation and under the felony-murder rule. Following a capital sentencing proceeding, the jury recommended a sentence of death for the murder; and the trial court entered judgment accordingly. For the reasons discussed herein, we conclude that defendant is entitled to a new trial.

This case appears to present a factual situation of first impression. In the afternoon of 18…