State of Az v. Christopher George Theodore Lamar

OPINION

McGREGOR, Vice Chief Justice.

¶ 1 A jury convicted Christopher George Theodore Lamar of the first degree murder and kidnapping of Ronald Jones. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial judge sentenced Lamar to death for the first degree murder conviction and to twenty-one years imprisonment for the kidnapping conviction. Appeal to this court is automatic and direct for capital cases. Ariz.Rev.Stat. (A.R.S.) § 13-703.04 (Supp.2002); Ariz. R.Crim. P. 31.2.b. We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to Article VI, Section 5.3 of the Arizona Constitution and A.R.S. section 13-4031 (2001).

I

¶2 This…