Facts of the Crime:
Defendant was indicted on 3 January 2000 for one count of first-degree murder, one count of felonious breaking and entering, and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. The cases came on for trial at the 2 July 2001 Special Criminal Session of Superior Court, Davidson County.
On 18 July 2001, the jury returned a verdict of guilty as to all of the charges and, following a capital sentencing proceeding, recommended a sentence of death for the first-degree murder. Defendant was sentenced to death and further received a sentence of 11 to 14 months' imprisonment for felonious breaking and entering and a sentence of 117 to 150 months' imprisonment for robbery with a dangerous weapon. The evidence at trial showed that on the morning of 22 November 1999, Thomas Gene Owens returned to his home in Linwood, North Carolina, to find his wife, Joyce McBride Owens, the victim, lying in a pool of blood on their living room floor. The victim's body had numerous stab wounds and two gunshot wounds to the head. The victim's throat had been slit, and her left wrist had been tied with a black electrical cord.
The evidence further showed that earlier on the morning of 22 November, James Hollis Watts, defendant, and Alton Cline McIntyre, codefendant, had been to the victim's house. A few days before the murder, Johnny Pierce, defendant's friend, had talked with defendant and McIntyre about obtaining guns for him. On the day of the murder, defendant and McIntyre went to the victim's house with the intent of stealing guns known to be kept there. Defendant and McIntyre knocked on the victim's door. When the victim came to the door, defendant inquired as to whether her husband was home. After establishing that the victim was alone, defendant pulled out a semiautomatic gun and forced the victim into her house. Defendant then ordered McIntyre to tie up the victim's hands. While McIntyre was attempting to tie the victim's hands with a black electrical cord, defendant took a kitchen knife and cut her throat. Defendant and McIntyre then stabbed the victim numerous times before she fell to the floor.
The evidence also showed that after disabling the victim, defendant and McIntyre went to the gun cabinet in the master bedroom and took two rifles, two shotguns, and one “muzzle loader.” They also found and took two crossbows that were displayed on the wall. After taking the weapons, defendant took a pillow from the victim's bed, put it over her head to muffle the sound, and shot the victim twice in the head.
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