State v. Small

WHICHARD, Justice.

Pursuant to a juvenile order entered 8 November 1988, defendant’s case was transferred to Superior Court, New Hanover County, where he was tried as an adult on true bills of indictment charging him with murder in the first degree and armed robbery. Defendant pled not guilty, and the murder case was tried noncapitally because he was under the age of sixteen at the time of the crimes. See Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815, 101 L. Ed. 2d 702 (1988). The jury found him guilty of first degree murder by premeditation and deliberation and under the felony murder rule, and of…