Opinion ID: 2331252
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Exclusion of Testimony of Robert Roberts Regarding a Specific Violent Act by Victim

Text: Appellant proffered the testimony of Robert Sammy Roberts that the night before the incident he heard Jerry Markum, the victim, threaten to either break appellant's neck or beat him up. The trial court excluded the testimony because appellant was not aware of the threat. However, the court did allow Roberts to testify that Markum had a reputation for violence in the community and that Markum was a bad ass. Appellant argues that the trial court erred in excluding the testimony about the alleged threat the night before the shooting. We disagree with appellant. As discussed above, the victim's character is not an essential element of a defendant's self-defense claim in a first-degree murder case, such that the evidence of a specific violent act by the victim is admissible under Ark. R. Evid. 405(b). Further, if appellant was unaware of the threat, he cannot argue that said threat caused him to act in self-defense. For these reasons, we affirm the trial court on this point.