The State, Respondent v. H. Wesley Copeland and Sammy David Roberts, Appellants

Summary

The court affirmed the convictions and death sentences for armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder, but vacated the life sentences imposed for kidnapping because the governing statute required life imprisonment for kidnapping unless the defendant was sentenced for murder under the capital sentencing statute. The court rejected challenges concerning the constitutionality of the death-penalty scheme, the defendants' participation and intent, venue, continuances, jury selection, prosecutorial argument, jury instructions, polygraph evidence, and sentencing-phase testimony. It also held that prior inconsistent statements may be admitted as substantive evidence when the declarant testifies and is subject to cross-examination.