Heath William Burch v. State of Maryland

Summary

The court affirmed Burch’s convictions and upheld the death sentence for Mr. Davis’s murder, but vacated the death sentence for Mrs. Davis and remanded for entry of a life sentence. It held that Burch’s statements were voluntary, the challenged trial evidence and instructions were properly handled, and the evidence sufficiently established Mrs. Davis’s intent and premeditation. The court also rejected Burch’s challenges to the capital sentencing procedure, voir dire, continuance, judicial assignment, and death-penalty statute. Chief Judge Bell, dissenting, would have vacated both death sentences and ordered a new sentencing proceeding; Judge Chasanow, concurring in part and dissenting in part, would have affirmed both death sentences or required a new sentencing proceeding rather than direct entry of a life sentence.