Opinion ID: 2317266
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading:  636. Murder in the first degree; class A felony.

Text: (a) A person is guilty of murder in the first degree when: (1) He intentionally causes the death of another person; (2) In the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of a felony or immediate flight therefrom, he recklessly causes the death of another person; (3) He intentionally causes another person to commit suicide by force or duress; (4) He recklessly causes the death of a law-enforcement officer, corrections employee or fireman while such officer is in the lawful performance of his duties; (5) He causes the death of another person by the use of or detonation of any bomb or similar destructive device; (6) He, with criminal negligence, causes the death of another person in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of rape, kidnapping, arson in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, or immediate flight therefrom; (7) He causes the death of another person in order to avoid or prevent the lawful arrest of any person, or in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of escape in the second degree or escape after conviction. APPENDIX C IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN AND FOR COUNTY STATE OF DELAWARE,  Plaintiff,   v.  No. Cr. A. #IK-79-11-0236  IK-79-11-0237 WILLIAM HENRY FLAMER,  IK-79-11-0238 Defendant.  IK-79-11-0239 TO: THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE. The Trial Judge in this case, in which the defendant was indicted for murder in the first degree, herewith submits this report, based upon the record in the case and on a prepared by the Pre-Sentence Office: Sentence Imposed: Death ___________________________________________________________________________________ A. Data Concerning Defendant 1. Name Flamer William Henry 2. Date of Birth 11/10/54 Last First Middle Mo. Day Yr Address 147 Ilispillion St. Harrington, DE 19952 Street City State Zip 3. Social Security Number _____ _____ _____ 4. Sex: M [X] F [ ] 5. Marital Status: Never Married [ ] Married [ ] Divorced [ ] Spouse Deceased [ ] Married & Separated [x] 6. Children (a) Number of children 1 (b) Ages of children: 1 2 (3) 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 over 18 (Circle age of each child) 7. Father living: Yes [X] No [ ] If deceased, give date of death _________________ 8. Mother living: Yes [X] No [ ] If deceased, give date of death _________________ 9. Number of children born to parents _____________________________ 10. Education ÔÇö Highest Grade Completed : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (9) 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 (Circle one) [] College 11. Intelligence Level: Low (IQ below 70) [ ] Medium (IQ 70 to 100) [X] High (IQ above 100) [ ] 12. Is defendant physically handicapped? Yes [ ] No [X] If answer is affirmative, explain ________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Is defendant mentally handicapped? Yes [ ] No. [X] If answer is affirmative, explain: ________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Psychiatric Evaluation Performed: Yes [X] No. [ ] (a) If performed, does it state affirmatively that defendant can: (1) Distinguish right from wrong? Yes [X] No. [ ] (2) Adhere to the right? [X] [ ] (3) Cooperate intelligently in his own defense? [X] [ ] (b) If performed, were character or behavior disorders found? Yes [ ] No [ ] If answer is affirmative, explain: alcoholism ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ (c) What other pertinent psychiatric [and physchological] information was revealed? ____ No symptoms of psychosis or any other mental illness ________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. Work record (last 10 years) : Type of Job Pay Dates Held Reason for Termination (a) horse groom-defendant employed off and on during several years' period (b) by various horse owners. In addition, he has held other menial jobs (c) for short periods of time. (d) _______________________________________________________________________________________ (e) _______________________________________________________________________________________ 16. Does defendant have a record of prior convictions as an adult? Yes [X] No [ ] 17. If the answer is affirmative, list each offense, the date of the offense, and the sentence imposed. Offense Date of Offense Sentence Imposed (a) See enclosed Exhibit (Attached Exhibit A) (b) _______________________________________________________________________________________ (c) _______________________________________________________________________________________ (d) _______________________________________________________________________________________ 18. Was defendant a local resident or transient in the community? Resident [X] Transient [ ] B. Data Concerning the Trial 1. Was the case tried with a jury? Yes [X] No [ ] 2. How did defendant plead? Guilty [ ] Not Guilty [X] C. Offense Rebated Data 1. On what ground was defendant found guilty? See 11 Del.C.  636. (a) Defendant intentionally caused the death of another person. [X] (b) In the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of a felony or immediate flight therefrom, defendant recklessly caused the death of another person. [X] (c) Defendant intentionally caused a another person to commit suicide by force or duress. [ ] (d) Defendant recklessly caused the death of a law enforcement officer, corrections employee or fireman while such officer was in the lawful performance of his duties. [ ] (e) Defendant caused the death of another person by the use of or detonation of a bomb or similar destructive device. [ ] (f) Defendant, with criminal negligence, caused the death of another person in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of rape, kidnapping, arson in the first degree robbery in the first degree, or immediate flight therefrom. [X] (g) Defendant caused the death of another person, or in the course of and in furtherance of the commission or attempted commission of escape in the second degree or escape after conviction. [ ] 2. Were other offenses tried in the same trial? Yes [X] No [ ] If the answer is affirmative, list those offenses and the verdict as to each. (a) Poss. D/W D/C of a felony Guilty [X] Not Guilty [ ] (b) Robbery First Degree Guilty [X] Not Guilty [ ] (c) Felony, Theft - (found guilty of misdemeanor theft) Guilty [X] Not Guilty [ ] (d) __________________________________________________________ Guilty [ ] Not Guilty [ ] 3. Was any other person indicated for the homocide for which this defendant has been convicted? Yes [X] No [ ] 4. How did any such other person plead? No Guilty 5. Was any such other person convicted of the offense charged? Yes [ ] No. [X] 6. What sentence was imposed on any such other person? _____________________________ (Trial Pending) 7. If tried by jury, did the jury recommend the death sentence? Yes [X] No. [ ] 8. Was a statutory aggravating circumstance found in the trial of this defendant? See 11 Del. C.  4209(e) Yes [X] No. [ ] 9. Which of the following statutory aggravating circumstances was instructed and which was found? Instructed Found ---------- ----- (a) The murder was committed by a person in, or who has escaped from, the custody of a law-enforcement officer, or place of confinement. [ ] [ ] (b) The murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing an arrest or for the purpose of effecting an escape from custody. [ ] [ ] (c) The murder was committed against any law-enforcement officer, corrections employee or fireman, while such victim was engaged in the performance of his official duties. [ ] [ ] (d) The murder was committed against a judicial officer, a former judicial officer, Attorney General, former Attorney General, Assistant or Deputy Attorney General or former Assistant or Deputy Attorney General, State Detective or former State Detective, Special Investigator or former Special Investigator, during, or because of, the exercise of his official duty. [ ] (e) The murder was committed against a person who was held or otherwise detained as a shield or hostage. [ ] [ ] (f) The murder was committed against a person who was held or detained by defendant for ransom or reward. [ ] [ ] (g) The murder was committed against a person who was a witness to a crime and who was killed for the purpose of preventing his appearance or testimony in any grand jury, criminal or civil proceeding involving such crime. [ ] [ ] (h) Defendant paid or was paid by another person or had agreed to pay or he paid by another person or had conspired to pay or be paid by another person for the killing of the victim. [ ] [ ] (i) Defendant was previously convicted of another murder or manslaughter or of a felony involving the use of, or threat of, force or violence upon another person. [ ] [ ] (j) The murder was committed while defendant was engaged in the commission of, or attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit any degree of rape, arson, kidnapping, robbery, sodomy or burglary. [X] [X] (k) Defendant's course of conduct resulted in the deaths of 2 or more persons where the deaths are a probable consequence of defendant's conduct. [X] [X] (l) The murder was committed by means of torture, use of an explosive device or poison, or defendant used such means on the victim prior to murdering him. [ ] [ ] (m) Defendant caused or directed another to commit murder or committed murder as an agent or employee of another person. [ ] [ ] (n) The murder was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman. [X] [X] (o) Defendant was under a sentence of life imprisonment, whether for natural life or otherwise, at the time of the commission of the murder. [ ] [ ] (p) The murder was committed for pecuniary gain. [X] [X] (q) The victim was pregnant. [ ] [ ] 10. List nonstatutory aggravating circumstances in evidence, if any. (a) felony record of defendant (b) age of victims (c) relative size of victim, Alberta Smith (d) relationship of defendant to victims (nephew) 11. (a) Was there evidence of mitigating circumstances? Yes [X] No [ ] (b) If the answer to 11 (a) is affirmative, list any such mitigating circumstance in evidence: (1) alcholism (2) low mentality (3) defendant did not act alone and not liable for actions of co-defendant (4) unstable lifestyle. 12. If tried with a jury, was the jury instructed to consider mitigating circumstances? Yes [] No [ ] 13. Was a weapon used in commission of the crime? Yes [X] No. [ ] If the answer is affirmative, was the weapon: Poison [ ] Motor Vehicle [ ] Blunt Instrument [ ] Sharp Instrument [X] Firearm [ ] Other [ ] 14. Was there evidence that defendant was under the influence of narcotics or dangerous drugs at the time of the offense? Yes [ ] No [X] If answer is affirmative, explain: ________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ D. Date Concerning The Victim (Additional information on Victim No. 2 attached) 1. Name: Smith Alberta Last First Middle 2. Date of Birth: 12 18 1909 3. Sex: M [ ] F [X] Mo. Day Yr. 4. Was the victim related by blood or marriage to defendant? Yes [X] No [ ] 5. If the answer is affirmative, what was the relationship? Aunt - Mother's Sister ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Was the victim an employer or employee of defendant? No. [X] Employer [ ] Employee [ ] [X] Relative 7. Was the victim acquainted with defendant? No [ ] Casual Acquaintance [ ] Friend [ ] 8. Was the victim a local resident or transient in the community? Resident [X] Transient [ ] 9. Was the victim of the same race as defendant? Yes [X] No [ ] 10. Was the victim of the same sex as defendant? Yes [ ] No [X] 11. Was the victim held hostage during the crime? No [X] Yes - Less than an hour [ ] Yes - More than an hour [ ] 12. What was the victim's reputation in the community? Good [X] Bad [ ] Unknown [ ] 13. Did the victim have a record of prior convictions as an adult? Yes [ ] No [X] 14. If the answer is affirmative, list each offense, the date of the offense, and the sentence imposed. Offense Date of Offense Sentence Imposed (a) _______________________________________________________________________________________ (b) _______________________________________________________________________________________ (c) _______________________________________________________________________________________ (d) _______________________________________________________________________________________ 15. Was the victim physically abused? Yes [X] No [ ] If the answer is affirmative, explain: stabbed repeatedly with a knife. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ E. Representation of Defendant 1. Date counsel secured 2/7/79 2. Was counsel: (a) a Public Defender [X] (b) Retained by defendant [ ] (c) Appointed by the Court [ ] 3. If counsel was appointed by the Court, was it because: (a) Defendant was unable to afford counsel? [ ] (b) Defendant refused to secure counsel? [ ] (c) Other (explain) ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Was defendant represented by the same counsel throughout the trial? Yes [X] No. [ ] 5. If not, explain __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ F. General Considerations 1. Was race raised by defendant as an issue at trial? Yes [ ] No [X] 2. Did race otherwise appear as an issue at trial? Yes [ ] No [X] 3. What percentage of the population of the County is the same race as defendant? (a) Under 10% [ ] (b) 10 to 25% [X] (c) 25 to 50% [ ] (d) 50 to 75% [ ] (e) 75 to 90% [ ] (f) Over 90% [ ] 4. Were members of defendant's race represented on the jury? Yes [X] No [ ] 5. Was the jury instructed to exclude race as an issue? Yes [ ] No [X] 6. Was the jury instructed to disregard community publicity about the case? Yes [X] No [ ] 7. Was the jury instructed to avoid any influence of passion, prejudice, or other arbitrary factor during deliberation? Yes [X] No [ ] 8. Was the punishment hearing held before the same jury which sat at the guilt phase of the trial? Yes [X] No [ ] If not, state the reason and any additional information deemed important to this report as the result thereof: ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ G. Chronology of Case Elapsed Days 1. Date of Offense 2/7/79 2. Date of Arrest 2/7/79 0 3. Date Trial Began 1/24/80 352 4. Date Sentence Imposed 2/12/80 372 5. Date post trial motions ruled on 6. Date Trial Judge's Report Completed 2/15/80 375 7. Total elapsed days 375 If more than one attorney presents defendant, answer the questions as to each attorney and attach to this report. This report was submitted to the Attorney General and to defendant's counsel for comments concerning the factual accuracy of the report, and 1. Such comments are attached ( ) 2. Counsel stated that no comments would be submitted ( ) 3. Counsel has not responded ( ) 4. Report was reviewed in person with Attorney General and Defense Counsel.      Use this space for additional comments, if necessary. Victim #2 - Smith, Byard D.O.B. 3/12/10 Male 4. Blood Relative or Marriage - Yes 5. Uncle by Marriage 6. No. 7. Victim was acquainted 8. Resident 9. Same Race 10. Same Sex 11. No. - not held hostage 12. Good Reputation 13. Unknown - If, yes, not believed serious offenses 14. N/A 15. Yes - stabbed repeatedly with a knife.