Presnell v. Georgia, 439 U.S. 14 (1978)

Presnell v. Georgia


No. 77-6885


Decided November 6, 1978
439 U.S. 14

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT
OF GEORGIA

Syllabus

The Georgia Supreme Court’s affirmance of petitioner’s death sentence for murder imposed under a Georgia statute authorizing such a sentence for a capital offense committed while another capital offense is being committed, and of his conviction of kidnaping with bodily injury, is unconstitutional as violative of due process, where such affirmance was based on an underlying rape charge of which petitioner was not properly tried and convicted. Cf. Cole v. Arkansas, 333 U.S. 196.

Certiorari granted in part; 241 Ga. 49, 243 S.E.2d 496, reversed in part and remanded.