State v. Abbott

This proceeding was instituted in this court as a direct appeal from judgments of conviction entered as to both defendants on the charges of sodomy -and larceny from the person. We have held in this case, however, that, because this appeal is not an all-out attack on the merits of the defendants’ convictions but rather is a challenge to the constitutional validity of their convictions and sentences, we shall hereinafter treat this matter as an appeal from the Superior Court denial of postconviction relief *296under G.L. 1956 (1969 Reenactment) §§10-9.1-2 and 10-9.1-9. State v. Abbott, 117 R.I.…