Smith v. State (Majority)
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In the case before the Supreme Court of Arkansas, the appellant, Marlon Smith, was appealing his conviction and life sentence for first-degree murder. His appeal centered around two main arguments. Firstly, he contended that the lower court erred by not granting his motion for mistrial after a witness testified that he had previously been in prison. Secondly, he argued that the court erred by not granting his motion for a directed verdict, asserting that the evidence presented was insufficient to establish his intent to commit the murder.
The court affirmed the conviction and life sentence. With regards to the first argument, the court held that a mistrial was not warranted as a curative instruction to the jury could have resolved the issue. The court also noted that the appellant failed to ensure that such an instruction was given. Regarding the second argument, the court held that there was substantial evidence, including eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence, to support the jury's conclusion that the appellant intended to commit the murder. The court held that the appellant's post-event actions, including his flight from the scene and subsequent lies to the police, were also evidence of his intentional act. Therefore, the court found no error in the lower court's denial of the appellant's motion for a directed verdict.
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