Bevins v. Commonwealth

LEIBSON, Justice.

The appellant has been sentenced to death for the murders of Roger Hatfield, Michael Halpert, Jarvey Hamilton, Rufus Hamilton and Roger Click. The appellant shot these men to death with an automatic rifle during a shooting spree at the Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store in Allen, Kentucky, on October 16, 1981. The appellant also shot three others in the store, causing serious physical injury, and he has been convicted of aggravated assault for these offenses.

At the jury trial, after the first witness testified at length as to the details of the carnage, the appellant withdrew…