Summary
holding that the trial judge did not err in excusing prospective jurors outside the defendant's presence, for a local act applicable to the twelfth judicial circuit, rather than § 12-16-120, governs the selection of a jury for a capital case
Summary of this case from Daniels v. StateOpinion
79-457.
August 28, 1981.
Petition for writ of certiorari to the court of criminal appeals, 405 So.2d 374.
Reversed and remanded to the Court of Criminal Appeals on the authority of Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625, 100 S.Ct. 2382, 65 L.Ed.2d 392 (1980); Beck v. State, 396 So.2d 645 (Ala. 1980); Ritter v. State, 403 So.2d 154 (Ala. 1981); and Reed v. State, 407 So.2d 162 (Ala. 1981).
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
All Justices concur, except MADDOX, JONES and ADAMS, JJ., who concur specially.
By concurring specially we adhere to the views expressed in our respective opinions in Ritter v. State, 403 So.2d 154 (Ala. 1981), to the effect that we would not reverse the conviction in any case in which the record of trial affirmatively precludes any showing which would entitle the defendant to a jury instruction on a lesser included offense.
Because the per curiam opinion mandates a retrial on the issue of guilt, as well as the issue of sentence, we re-emphasize the proposition that an instruction on a lesser included offense is required "on any lesser included offense supported by the evidence," Beck v. State, 396 So.2d 645, 657 (Ala. 1980), but an instruction on a lesser included offense would be appropriate only if there was evidence which would support the giving of such an instruction. Roberts v. Louisiana, 428 U.S. 325, 96 S.Ct. 3001, 49 L.Ed.2d 974 (1976), Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625, 100 S.Ct. 2382, 2386, 65 L.Ed.2d 392 (footnote 7) (1980).
On remand, Ala.Cr.App., 405 So.2d 392.