State v. Lyons

LAKE, Justice. The defendant was indicted on 31 January 1994 for attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and for the first-degree murder of Stephen Wilson Stafford. The defendant was tried capitally, and the jury found the defendant guilty of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and guilty of first-degree felony murder. Following a capital sentencing hearing pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 15A-2000, the jury recommended that the defendant be sentenced to death. For the reasons discussed herein, we conclude that the jury selection and the guilt/innocence and sentencing phases of defendant's trial were free from prejudicial error, and that the sentence of death is not disproportionate.