Jones v. State

Nov 1, 1988
72, 122, September Term, 1985
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Murphy
PER CURIAM.

In Jones v. State, 310 Md. 569, 530 A.2d 743 (1987), this Court affirmed appellant’s convictions and sentences for two first degree murders ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‍and other offenses. In particular, we upheld the death penalty imposed by a jury for the two first degree murders. Subsequently, the Supreme Court of the United States vacated this Court’s judgment and remanded the case to this Court ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‍for further consideration in light of Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. -, 108 S.Ct. 1860, *112 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988). See Jones v. Maryland, 486 U.S. -, 108 S.Ct. 2815, 100 L.Ed.2d 916 (1988).

After additional briefing and argument, and consideration of the Supreme Court’s opinion in Mills v. Maryland, supra, we conclude ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‍that a new capital sentencing hearing must be ordered in this case. Recently, in State v. Colvin, 314 Md. 1, 5, 548 A.2d 506 (1988), we held that “[a] new sentencing hearing is required ... because the procedure employed at Colvin-El’s sentencing by ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‍a jury is indistinguishable from the procedure invalidated in Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. -, 108 S.Ct. 1860, 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988).” In substance, the same is true here.

JUDGMENTS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY AFFIRMED EXCEPT AS TO DEATH SENTENCE. DEATH SENTENCE ‍‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‍VACATED. CASE REMANDED FOR A NEW SENTENCING PROCEEDING UNDER § 413 OF ARTICLE 27. COSTS TO BE PAID BY BALTIMORE COUNTY.