Opinion ID: 2588259
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Penalty PhaseProsecution Case

Text: The prosecution presented evidence of two prior murders: in January 1977, when he was 17 years old, defendant had killed his elderly grandparents, Daniel and Verneva Kent. Their bodies were found in easy chairs in the living room of their home in the State of Kansas. Each had been shot in the head. The house was in disarray, with pills scattered about and a woman's purse lying open on the floor. Mark Nelson, a friend of defendant's, was present when defendant argued with and shot the Kents. Defendant and Nelson were arrested early the next morning while driving the Kents' car. In the car, the officers found a stereo and two shotguns. Defendant was tried as a juvenile in Kansas. He admitted killing his grandparents and, in August 1977, was committed for treatment to a state facility. After successfully completing probation, defendant was released in January 1979.