Opinion ID: 1149193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Prieur Evidence

Text: The record reveals the State originally intended to introduce evidence of two sets of prior armed robberies during the guilt phase. These incidents included the Maples robbery and two armed robberies which took place at Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge in early 1993. After holding a Prieur hearing, the trial court held the other crimes admissible in order to show modus operandi, system and intent. The defendant sought writs in this court. This court excluded only the evidence of the Cortana robberies in the instant case because that evidence would have had little probative value as to the defendant's intent to kill or inflict great bodily harm. State v. Williams, 95-1064 (La.5/1/95), 654 So.2d 1087. The defendant alleges this court's order, excluding evidence of his participation in the robberies occurring at Cortana Mall, applied not only to the guilt phase of the trial but also to the penalty phase. While the character of the defendant is usually irrelevant to the determination of guilt, it is one of the factors on which the determination of sentence is focused. State v. Hamilton, 478 So.2d 123, 129 (La. 1985), cert. denied, 478 U.S. 1022, 106 S.Ct. 3339, 92 L.Ed.2d 743 (1986). The sentencing hearing shall focus on the circumstances of the offense, the character and propensities of the offender, and the impact that the death of the victim has had on the family members. La.Code Crim.P. art. 905.2(A) (emphasis added). Therefore, even though the Cortana robberies may have been irrelevant in the guilt phase, these prior bad acts as well as the Maples incident were all relevant to the defendant's character, the primary focus of the penalty phase. Thus, the defendant's claim is without merit.