State v. Tapp

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE.  IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State, Respondent,

v.

Phillip Tapp, Appellant.

Appeal From Spartanburg County
J. Derham Cole, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No.  2012-UP-083
Submitted February 1, 2012 Filed February 22, 2012 

APPEAL DISMISSED

Senior Appellate Defender Joseph L. Savitz, III, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Alan Wilson, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka, all of Columbia; and Solicitor Barry Barnette, of Spartanburg, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM:  Phillip Tapp appeals his convictions for two counts of murder and one count of armed robbery, arguing the circuit court committed reversible error by instructing the jury that Tapp had a duty to retreat before acting in self-defense.  After a thorough review of the record and counsel's brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and State v. Williams, 305 S.C. 116, 406 S.E.2d 357 (1991), we dismiss the appeal and grant counsel's motion to be relieved.[1]

APPEAL DISMISSED. 

FEW, C.J., HUFF and SHORT, JJ., concur.

[1] We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.