Vankirk v. State
Annotate this CaseAppellant Ira Vankirk pled guilty to three counts of rape and was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment. On appeal, Appellant argued that the circuit court erred during the sentencing proceedings by allowing the State to introduce a videotaped interview of an investigator for the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children division asking the victim in this case about the rape allegations. Specifically, Appellant contended the admission of the evidence violated Appellant's constitutional right to confrontation. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the right of confrontation extended to Appellant's sentencing proceeding before a jury, (2) the circuit court erred in admitting the videotaped interview of the victim, and (3) such error was not harmless. Remanded for resentencing.
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