Opinion ID: 2007872
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: STATEMENTS TO JURY DURING Volk DIRE

Text: During voir dire, Bazer's trial counsel accordingly explained to the jury that he was not denying that the case involved a senseless waste of life. Furthermore, he was not going to hide from the jury the fact that Bazer held the gun thatthat fired a shot that struck the back of her head and killed Mary Jirsak. Counsel stated that whether Bazer caused Jirsak's death was not an issue. Instead, the issue in the case was whether Bazer had intended to commit the robbery that formed the basis of the felony murder charge. Trial counsel made reference to possible evidence that the gun had misfired, and he explained to the jury that in order for the State to prove felony murder, it would have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Bazer intended to commit the underlying robbery. In this regard, counsel stated that he expected the jury to be presented with evidence that Bazer had consumed large amounts of alcohol and other controlled substances prior to the incident. Without objection, trial counsel told the jury that it would be presented with expert testimony that a person's ability to think, and to form the goal-directed thought process of intent, could be affected by the consumption of alcohol and other substances. Trial counsel also mentioned fears in Bazer's mind because of what other people were trying to do to him at that time. Counsel told the jury that he was not denying that Bazer committed some type of crime and deserved some form of punishment. However, counsel explained that the question with which the jury was presented was whether Bazer had the intent to commit the crime of felony murder.