Opinion ID: 2779229
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Trial P roceedings and

Text: Direct Appeal After a jury trial, Thorpe was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and two counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony for his involvement with the shooting deaths of Kevin Pierce and Victor Ford. Thorpe was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on each count of first degree murder and 30 to 40 years’ imprisonment and 40 to 50 years’ imprisonment on the counts of use of a weapon to commit a felony. All four of his sentences were ordered to be served consecutively. On direct appeal, we affirmed Thorpe’s convictions and sentences on the weapons charges and his convictions on the murder charges. See State v. Thorpe, 280 Neb. 11, 783 N.W.2d 749 (2010). But we vacated Thorpe’s sentences of life imprisonment without parole for the murder charges, because life imprisonment without parole was not a valid sentence for first degree murder in Nebraska. See id. We remanded the cause with directions to “sentence Thorpe to life imprisonment on both murder charges.” See id. at 27, 783 N.W.2d at 763. Thorpe was represented by the same attorney at trial and on direct appeal. Nebraska Advance Sheets 152 290 NEBRASKA REPORTS