Opinion ID: 215844
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: Facts relevant to claim

Text: Selsor was originally charged by information with first degree murder in violation of Oklahoma's 1973 murder statute. See Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 701.1 (1973). That statute defined the crime of first degree murder to require proof of a premeditated design to effect the death of the person killed, or of any other human being, and commission of the murder during the course of one of several enumerated felony offenses, including armed robbery. Id. Consistent with that statutory definition, the information filed against Selsor alleged that he, with a premeditated design to effect the death of one CLAYTON CHANDLER, and while being then and there engaged in committing the crime of Robbery With Firearms did kill the said CLAYTON CHANDLER by means of a firearm loaded with powder. . . . S. R., Vol. I at 10. At Selsor's retrial proceedings, the prosecution relied on the original information. However, the prosecution also filed a Bill of Particulars (something it was not required to do under the 1973 murder statute) alleging the existence of two aggravating circumstances enumerated in Oklahoma's 1976 murder statute. See Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 701.12 (1976). Selsor moved to strike the Bill of Particulars. After the state trial court denied Selsor's motion, Selsor petitioned the OCCA for a writ of mandamus and asserted a number of constitutional objections to the Bill of Particulars. The OCCA, in its Turnbull decision, rejected Selsor's petition. In rejecting Selsor's claim that the prosecution's pursuit of the death penalty against him violated his rights under the Equal Protection Clause, the OCCA stated that Selsor [wa]s no longer similarly situated to those defendants subject to Oklahoma's unconstitutional death penalty statute, 21 O.S.Supp. 1973, § 701.3, or to those defendants whose sentences were modified in accordance with Riggs.  Turnbull, 947 P.2d at 583. Selsor's Judgment and Sentence has been vacated, the OCCA stated,  and he stands before this Court, similarly situated to defendants awaiting trial under current murder and death penalty statutes.  [9] Id. (emphasis added). Following the issuance of Turnbull, Selsor's case returned to the state trial court, where his retrial proceedings began. At the close of the first-stage evidence, the state trial court read to the jury the language of the information that was filed against Selsor in 1975. S. R., Vol. III at 351-54. That language stated, in pertinent part: The Defendant in this case, MICHAEL B. SELSOR, stands charged by an Information filed by the State of Oklahoma with the crime of MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. The Information alleges that RICHARD EUGENE DODSON and MICHAEL B. SELSOR, on or about the 15th day of September, 1975, in Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma, and within the jurisdiction of this Court, did unlawfully, feloniously, and willfully, while acting in concert each with the other, without authority of law, and with a premeditated design to effect the death of one CLAYTON CHANDLER, the said RICHARD EUGENE DODSON and the said MICHAEL B. SELSOR did, while being then and there engaged in committing the crime of Robbery with firearms, did kill the said CLAYTON CHANDLER by means of a firearm loaded with powder and shot, held in the hands of the said defendants and with which they pointed at, fired, and shot the said CLAYTON CHANDLER, said shot causing mortal wounds in the body of the said CLAYTON CHANDLER, from which mortal wounds the said CLAYTON CHANDLER did languish and die;    The Defendant in this case, MICHAEL B. SELSOR, stands charged by an Information filed by the State of Oklahoma with the crime of ROBBERY WITH FIREARMS. The Information alleges that RICHARD EUGENE DODSON and MICHAEL B. SELSOR, on or about the 15th day of September, 1975, in Tulsa County, State of Oklahoma and within the jurisdiction of this Court, did unlawfully, feloniously and wrongfully, while acting in concert each with the other, rob one CLAYTON CHANDLER, by wrongfully taking and carrying away certain money belonging to U-TOTE-M STORE # 918, and in the possession of said CLAYTON CHANDLER, and in his immediate presence, without his consent and against his will, said robbery being accomplished by said defendants with the use of a certain firearm, to-wit: a .22 caliber pistol, and which they used to menace and threaten the said CLAYTON CHANDLER with harm if he resisted, and by said assault, threats and menace did then and there put the said CLAYTON CHANDLER in fear of immediate and unlawful injury to his person and overcame all his resistance, and while so intimidating him did then and there wrongfully take and obtain from him the money aforesaid, contrary to the form of the Statutes in such cases made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the State. Id. at 351-54. The state trial court then proceeded to provide the jury with specific instructions regarding the crime of first degree murder. In doing so, the state trial court outlined for the jury the essential elements of first degree murder under Oklahoma's 1976 murder statute, rather than the 1973 murder statute under which Selsor was charged: The defendant is charged with: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE of CLAYTON CHANDLER on September 15, 1975, in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Id. at 361. No person may be convicted of murder in the first degree unless the State has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each element of the crime. These elements are: First, the death of a human; Second, the death was unlawful; Third, the death was caused by the defendant; Fourth, the death was caused with malice aforethought. Id. at 363. The state trial court also separately instructed the jury on the elements of the crime of Robbery With Firearms: The defendant is charged with: ROBBERY WITH FIREARMS of CLAYTON CHANDLER on September 15th, 1975, in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. Id. at 371. No person may be convicted of ROBBERY WITH FIREARMS unless the State has proved beyond a reasonable doubt each element of the crime. These elements are: First, wrongful; Second, taking; Third, carrying away; Fourth, personal property; Fifth, of another; Sixth, from the person of another; Seventh, by force/fear; Eighth, through use of a loaded firearm. Id. at 372. After deliberating, the jury found Selsor guilty of both of these crimes, as well as the crime of Shooting With Intent to Kill.