Monroe v. Louisiana

How later courts describe this case

• Virginia conviction for rape admissible because defendant was convicted of what would be considered a felony in North Carolina
• statutory aggravating circumstance in death penalty case of great risk of death to many persons satisfied where four nonparticipating, unarmed and innocent people present during shoot-out between defendant and police in restaurant
• female victim robbed by defendant while on her way to work
• since evidence that defendant was guilty of murder, kidnapping, robbery and assault was overwhelming based on eyewitness accounts, error in admission of defendant’s statement that he had once abducted and shot a white girl was not prejudicial
• previous conviction of murder in the first degree
• prior conviction of a violent felony
• fatal stabbing accompanying rape and robbery