Ex Parte Nathan D. Slaton. (Re Nathan D. Slaton v. State).

Summary

The court affirmed Slaton's capital-murder conviction and death sentence after rejecting his challenges to the admission of his statement, expert testimony, jury instructions, evidentiary chain of custody, prosecutorial argument, jury selection, and sentencing procedure. It held that Slaton's statement did not clearly invoke his right to remain silent, the confession and related evidence were properly admitted, and the guilt- and penalty-phase instructions did not violate constitutional requirements. The court independently found the death sentence proper, supported by the aggravating and mitigating evidence, and neither excessive nor disproportionate.