State Tennessee v. Leroy Hall

DROWOTA, J. In this capital case, the defendant, LeRoy Hall, Jr., was convicted of premeditated first degree murder and aggravated arson. 1 In the sentencing hearing, the jury found two aggravating circumstances: (1) ""the murder was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond that necessary to produce death;"" and (2) ""the murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in committing or was attempting to commit, arson."" Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(5) and (7) (1991). Finding that the two aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury sentenced the defendant to death by electrocution.