State v. Bennett

McHUGH, Justice:

This action is before this Court upon an appeal by George E. Bennett from his October, 1983 conviction in the Circuit Court of Grant County, West Virginia, of murder of the first degree. W.Va.Code, 61-2-1 [1931]. The jury returned its verdict without a recommendation of mercy, and the circuit court sentenced the appellant to the West Virginia Penitentiary “for the rest of his natural life.” The State asserted at trial that the appellant murdered his wife, Debra Bennett, by means of strangulation. This Court has before it the petition for appeal, all matters of record and the…