Helsley v. State
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of two counts of murder. The trial court sentenced Defendant to life imprisonment without parole. Defendant sought post-conviction relief and subsequently received a new sentencing hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the jury recommended a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, and the trial court sentenced Defendant accordingly. Defendant appealed his sentence, seeking a reduction to a term of years. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the nature of the offense and the character of Defendant do not present a sufficiently compelling basis to override the decision of the jury and the trial court; and (2) Defendant’s claim that the jury’s weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors was an abuse of discretion was nonjusticiable.
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