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State of Oklahoma v. Robert Wayne Lambert
Date: 02-24-1999
Case Number: CRF-87-240
Judge: Donald D. Thompson
Court: District Court, Creek County, Oklahoma
Plaintiff's Attorney: Creek County Oklahoma District Attorney's Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Sapulpa Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
Description:
Sapulpa,Oklahoma criminal defense lawyers represented the Defendant charged with capital murder.
On October 6, 1987, Robert Wayne Lambert and Scott Allen Hain robbed, kidnapped and murdered Laura Lee Sanders and Michael Houghton. At some point, Lambert and Hain locked the victims in the trunk of the car. Lambert cut the gas line and one of the defendants set the car on fire. The victims died of asphyxiation and thermal burns.
Lambert was originally convicted in 1988 of first degree murder of both victims and sentenced to death. He was also convicted of two counts of kidnapping, two counts of larceny of an automobile, two counts of robbery with a firearm, and one count of arson. Lambert appealed his Judgment and Sentence. In 1994, this Court reversed Lambert's murder convictions and death sentences and remanded the case for a new trial.2 The Court affirmed the remaining convictions and sentences.
Before his re-trial, the State filed an Amended Information charging Lambert with First Degree Malice Murder and, in the alternative, First Degree Felony Murder.3 In 1996, the second trial was held.
In Oklahoma, felony murder is a specific type of first-degree murder that occurs when someone dies during the commission or attempted commission of certain enumerated felonies, even if the individual charged did not directly cause the death. This legal doctrine holds individuals accountable for a homicide based on their participation in a felony, regardless of intent to kill.
Key aspects of Oklahoma's felony murder law:
Underlying Felony:
The death must occur during the commission of a specified felony, such as murder, forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, or escape from lawful custody.
No Intent Required:
A conviction for felony murder does not require the prosecution to prove intent to kill. The law presumes intent from the commission of the underlying felony.
First-Degree Murder:
Felony murder is classified as first-degree murder, which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Active Participation:
The person being charged must be a participant in the underlying felony, not just a bystander.
Enumerated Felonies:
Oklahoma's felony murder statute specifies the felonies that trigger the rule, including those involving violence or a significant risk of harm.
Death Penalty:
In some cases, felony murder can lead to the death penalty, particularly if the underlying felony involved a dangerous weapon or the defendant demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life.
Examples of how felony murder applies:
Robbery with a deadly weapon:
If a robbery results in someone's death, all participants in the robbery, even those who did not directly cause the death, can be charged with felony murder.
Kidnapping:
If someone dies during the course of a kidnapping, all participants can be charged with felony murder, even if the death was not intentional.
Drug-related offenses:
In some cases, felony murder charges have been brought against individuals who provided drugs that led to an overdose.
Important Note: Oklahoma's felony murder statute has been the subject of debate and legal challenges, with some arguing that it can lead to unjust convictions and disproportionate punishments, especially when individuals are charged with first-degree murder without intent to kill.In Oklahoma, felony murder is a specific type of first-degree murder that occurs when someone dies during the commission or attempted commission of certain enumerated felonies, even if the individual charged did not directly cause the death. This legal doctrine holds individuals accountable for a homicide based on their participation in a felony, regardless of intent to kill.
Key aspects of Oklahoma's felony murder law:
Underlying Felony:
The death must occur during the commission of a specified felony, such as murder, forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, or escape from lawful custody.
No Intent Required:
A conviction for felony murder does not require the prosecution to prove intent to kill. The law presumes intent from the commission of the underlying felony.
First-Degree Murder:
Felony murder is classified as first-degree murder, which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Active Participation:
The person being charged must be a participant in the underlying felony, not just a bystander.
Enumerated Felonies:
Oklahoma's felony murder statute specifies the felonies that trigger the rule, including those involving violence or a significant risk of harm.
Death Penalty:
In some cases, felony murder can lead to the death penalty, particularly if the underlying felony involved a dangerous weapon or the defendant demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life.
Examples of how felony murder applies:
Robbery with a deadly weapon:
If a robbery results in someone's death, all participants in the robbery, even those who did not directly cause the death, can be charged with felony murder.
Kidnapping:
.
If someone dies during the course of a kidnapping, all participants can be charged with felony murder, even if the death was not intentional.
Drug-related offenses:
.
In some cases, felony murder charges have been brought against individuals who provided drugs that led to an overdose.
Important Note: Oklahoma's felony murder statute has been the subject of debate and legal challenges, with some arguing that it can lead to unjust convictions and disproportionate punishments, especially when individuals are charged with first-degree murder without intent to kill.
On October 6, 1987, Robert Wayne Lambert and Scott Allen Hain robbed, kidnapped and murdered Laura Lee Sanders and Michael Houghton. At some point, Lambert and Hain locked the victims in the trunk of the car. Lambert cut the gas line and one of the defendants set the car on fire. The victims died of asphyxiation and thermal burns.
Lambert was originally convicted in 1988 of first degree murder of both victims and sentenced to death. He was also convicted of two counts of kidnapping, two counts of larceny of an automobile, two counts of robbery with a firearm, and one count of arson. Lambert appealed his Judgment and Sentence. In 1994, this Court reversed Lambert's murder convictions and death sentences and remanded the case for a new trial.2 The Court affirmed the remaining convictions and sentences.
Before his re-trial, the State filed an Amended Information charging Lambert with First Degree Malice Murder and, in the alternative, First Degree Felony Murder.3 In 1996, the second trial was held.
In Oklahoma, felony murder is a specific type of first-degree murder that occurs when someone dies during the commission or attempted commission of certain enumerated felonies, even if the individual charged did not directly cause the death. This legal doctrine holds individuals accountable for a homicide based on their participation in a felony, regardless of intent to kill.
Key aspects of Oklahoma's felony murder law:
Underlying Felony:
The death must occur during the commission of a specified felony, such as murder, forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, or escape from lawful custody.
No Intent Required:
A conviction for felony murder does not require the prosecution to prove intent to kill. The law presumes intent from the commission of the underlying felony.
First-Degree Murder:
Felony murder is classified as first-degree murder, which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Active Participation:
The person being charged must be a participant in the underlying felony, not just a bystander.
Enumerated Felonies:
Oklahoma's felony murder statute specifies the felonies that trigger the rule, including those involving violence or a significant risk of harm.
Death Penalty:
In some cases, felony murder can lead to the death penalty, particularly if the underlying felony involved a dangerous weapon or the defendant demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life.
Examples of how felony murder applies:
Robbery with a deadly weapon:
If a robbery results in someone's death, all participants in the robbery, even those who did not directly cause the death, can be charged with felony murder.
Kidnapping:
If someone dies during the course of a kidnapping, all participants can be charged with felony murder, even if the death was not intentional.
Drug-related offenses:
In some cases, felony murder charges have been brought against individuals who provided drugs that led to an overdose.
Important Note: Oklahoma's felony murder statute has been the subject of debate and legal challenges, with some arguing that it can lead to unjust convictions and disproportionate punishments, especially when individuals are charged with first-degree murder without intent to kill.In Oklahoma, felony murder is a specific type of first-degree murder that occurs when someone dies during the commission or attempted commission of certain enumerated felonies, even if the individual charged did not directly cause the death. This legal doctrine holds individuals accountable for a homicide based on their participation in a felony, regardless of intent to kill.
Key aspects of Oklahoma's felony murder law:
Underlying Felony:
The death must occur during the commission of a specified felony, such as murder, forcible rape, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, or escape from lawful custody.
No Intent Required:
A conviction for felony murder does not require the prosecution to prove intent to kill. The law presumes intent from the commission of the underlying felony.
First-Degree Murder:
Felony murder is classified as first-degree murder, which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Active Participation:
The person being charged must be a participant in the underlying felony, not just a bystander.
Enumerated Felonies:
Oklahoma's felony murder statute specifies the felonies that trigger the rule, including those involving violence or a significant risk of harm.
Death Penalty:
In some cases, felony murder can lead to the death penalty, particularly if the underlying felony involved a dangerous weapon or the defendant demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life.
Examples of how felony murder applies:
Robbery with a deadly weapon:
If a robbery results in someone's death, all participants in the robbery, even those who did not directly cause the death, can be charged with felony murder.
Kidnapping:
.
If someone dies during the course of a kidnapping, all participants can be charged with felony murder, even if the death was not intentional.
Drug-related offenses:
.
In some cases, felony murder charges have been brought against individuals who provided drugs that led to an overdose.
Important Note: Oklahoma's felony murder statute has been the subject of debate and legal challenges, with some arguing that it can lead to unjust convictions and disproportionate punishments, especially when individuals are charged with first-degree murder without intent to kill.
Outcome:
The jury again found Lambert guilty of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced him to death on each count.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of State of Oklahoma v. Robert Wayne Lambert?
The outcome was: The jury again found Lambert guilty of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced him to death on each count.
Which court heard State of Oklahoma v. Robert Wayne Lambert?
This case was heard in District Court, Creek County, Oklahoma, OK. The presiding judge was Donald D. Thompson.
Who were the attorneys in State of Oklahoma v. Robert Wayne Lambert?
Plaintiff's attorney: Creek County Oklahoma District Attorney's Office. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Sapulpa Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was State of Oklahoma v. Robert Wayne Lambert decided?
This case was decided on February 24, 1999.