The defendant was charged with capital felony, murder, felony murder, and first and second-degree sexual assault on the claim that he and another man raped and strangled a young, mentally impaired woman. The State announced its intention to seek the death penalty. The trial, which took approximately two weeks, centered on the defendant’s mental state and role in the crime and also the cause and moment of death. The jury deliberated for three days, finding the defendant not guilty of capital felony, felony murder and first-degree sexual assault, but guilty of murder and other offenses. As a result, the defendant was spared a penalty hearing and possible death sentence.