The State, Respondent v. William Gary Blackburn, Appellant

Summary

Appellant Blackburn was convicted as an accessory before the fact to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the victim’s post‑assault statement was not admissible as part of the res gestae (though the error was harmless), that evidence of Blackburn’s prior alleged crimes was properly admitted to show motive, that the sheriff’s statement was not hearsay, and that allowing a principal’s testimony in exchange for a plea was not error.