Opinion ID: 2274149
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: Russell Winstead appeals as a matter of right [1] from a circuit court judgment following a jury trial in which he was convicted of murder and robbery. [2] The judgment sentenced Winstead for the murder to life imprisonment without parole for twenty-five years (LWOP/25) and for the robbery to twenty years' imprisonment. The trial court ordered the sentences to run consecutively. Following the denial of his post-trial motion for a new trial, Winstead filed in the Court of Appeals a separate appeal; and we granted transfer of that appeal to this Court. [3] This opinion addresses both appeals. Winstead's appeal seeks reversal of the judgment by raising several challenging issues relating to the trial of his case. Upon review of the full record, we conclude that Winstead received a fundamentally fair trial, so we affirm both of his convictions and the sentences imposed. But we must vacate the judgment on our own motion because the trial court erred by ordering Winstead's sentences to run consecutively rather than concurrently. [4] Accordingly, we remand the case to the trial court with directions to resentence Winstead and enter a new judgment in accordance with this opinion.