Oliver v. State
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and armed burglary of a dwelling with discharge of a firearm causing death. The trial court sentenced Defendant to death on both counts of first-degree murder and to life without parole on the burglary charge. Defendant appealed, raising four issues. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting testimony regarding a shotgun that was not used to commit the killings and allowing the shotgun to be admitted into evidence; (2) the trial court did not err in denying Defendant’s motion for mistrial where the prosecutor argued lack of remorse; (3) the trial court did not err in finding that the murder of one of the victims was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner; (4) any Hurst error in Defendant’s penalty phase was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt; (5) there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction for first-degree premeditated murder; and (6) Defendant’s death sentence was proportionate.
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