In a capital felony case, what happens if the state seeks the death penalty?

In a capital felony case where the state seeks the death penalty, the correct outcome is that the defendant may face imprisonment for life without parole if they are not sentenced to death. This means that while the state is pursuing the most severe punishment, the court also has the option to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole if the jury or judge decides against the death penalty.

This reflects the serious nature of capital crimes, where the defendant's actions are considered so egregious that they could warrant the ultimate penalty. However, legal proceedings allow for various potential outcomes, and a life sentence without the chance for parole is one such outcome that allows the jury to express that the crime was deserving of severe punishment without resorting to execution.

The other choices presented are not appropriate consequences in the context of seeking the death penalty for a capital felony. If the state is pursuing the death penalty, a release, lesser imprisonment terms, or trial forfeiture do not align with the legal process established for handling such serious cases.