Logan v. State
| Docket Number: | 2008-KA-01427-COA Linked Case(s): 2008-KA-01427-COA ; 2008-CT-01427-SCT |
|
| Court of Appeals: |
Opinion Link Opinion Date: 02-23-2010 Opinion Author: Carlton, J. Holding: Affirmed |
|
| Additional Case Information: |
Topic: Capital murder - Prior bad acts - M.R.E. 404(b) - M.R.E. 403 - Sufficiency of evidence Judge(s) Concurring: King, C.J., Lee and Myers, P.JJ., Irving, Griffis, Barnes, Ishee, Roberts and Maxwell, JJ. Procedural History: Jury Trial Nature of the Case: CRIMINAL - FELONY |
|
| Trial Court: |
Date of Trial Judgment: 06-26-2008 Appealed from: Forrest County Circuit Court Judge: Robert Helfrich Disposition: CONVICTED OF CAPITAL MURDER AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITHOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR PAROLE District Attorney: Jon Mark Weathers Case Number: 04-664CR |
|
| Party Name: | Attorney Name: | Brief(s) Available: | ||
| Appellant: | CHRISTOPHER LAMONT LOGAN |
LESLIE S. LEE, GAY L. POLK-PAYTON, GEORGE T. HOLMES |
|
|
| Appellee: | STATE OF MISSISSIPPI | OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: DEIRDRE MCCRORY | ||
Synopsis provided by:  If you are interested in subscribing to the weekly synopses of all Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals hand downs please contact Tammy Upton in the MLI Press office. |
|
| Topic: | Capital murder - Prior bad acts - M.R.E. 404(b) - M.R.E. 403 - Sufficiency of evidence |
| Summary of the Facts: | Christopher Logan was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life. He appeals. |
| Summary of Opinion Analysis: | Issue 1: Prior bad acts The court allowed the prosecution to ask questions about Logan’s prior acts of violence against his girlfriend. Logan in his trial testimony admitted that he had taken some aggression out on his girlfriend, including hitting her. Under M.R.E. 404(b), evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts may be admissible as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. Trial courts have the discretion to determine whether potentially prejudicial evidence possesses sufficient probative value under M.R.E. 403. Here, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the testimony. Issue 2: Sufficiency of evidence Logan argues that the evidence presented at trial was legally insufficient to support the jury’s verdict. The only reasonable explanation for the child’s injuries was that they were caused by blunt-force trauma. Logan’s explanation was both unreasonable and refuted by all the medical experts and testimony. He the only other person present with the child and the only person with access to the child at the time who could have inflicted the injuries to the child. |
Home | Terms of Use | About the JDP | Feedback | Using JDP | MC Law Library | Mississippi Supreme Court
