State v. Williams

Supreme Court of Louisiana
State v. Williams, 263 La. 284 (La. 1972)
268 So. 2d 227; 1972 La. LEXIS 5330

State v. Williams

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Defendant, Earl Williams, Jr., was convicted of rape and the death sentence imposed was affirmed by this Court. 252 La. 1023, 215 So.2d 799 (1968).

Citing Stewart v. Massachusetts, 408 U. S. 845, 92 S.Ct. 2845, 33 L.Ed.2d 744 (1972), following Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S.Ct. 2726, 33 L.Ed.2d 346 (1972), the United States Supreme Court vacated the judgment herein insofar as it left undisturbed the death penalty imposed and remanded this case to this Court for further proceedings, 408 U.S. 934, 92 S.Ct. 2851, 33 L.Ed.2d 747 (1972).

We construe the Mandate of the United States Supreme Court to require the imposition of a sentence other than death. Cf., State v. Shaffer, 260 La. 605, 257 So.2d 121 (1971) and State v. Duplessis, 260 La. 644, 257 So.2d 135 (1971).

Accordingly, in compliance with the Mandate of the United States Supreme Court, the death sentence imposed upon defendant is annulled and set aside, and the case is remanded to the 18th Judicial District Court with instructions to the trial judge to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment.

Case remanded.

Reference

Full Case Name
STATE of Louisiana v. Earl WILLIAMS, Jr.
Cited By
6 cases
Status
Published