Scruggs v. Georgia
Annotate this CaseAppellant Phillip Scruggs and the victim lived together in an apartment. Neighbors could hear them fight with one another almost every day. On the day in question, appellant poured a medium petroleum distillate on the victim and set her on fire because he believed she was "cheating" on him. He also burned down the victim’s apartment building with a Molotov cocktail filled with the same type of distillate. Appellant was charged with and tried and convicted of malice murder and other crimes in connection with the torching and burning of the victim, his longtime girlfriend. He appealed, asserting, inter alia, the trial court erred in admitting similar transaction evidence. Finding no error, the Supreme Court affirmed.
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