Opinion ID: 1858107
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 23

Heading: State v. Jackson /Assignment of Error 7

Text: Defendant complains the trial court exceeded the parameters of State v. Jackson, 608 So.2d 949 (La.1992) when defendant's conviction for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling was introduced at the penalty phase. During its case-in-chief, the State introduced testimony from the victim, Mrs. Vining, and a witness, her daughter, Jerri Vining. Defendant's argument is that Jackson authorizes testimony from a victim or eyewitness, but not both. In Jackson, this court held the evidence supporting the conviction which could be introduced at the penalty phase was limited to the document certifying the fact of conviction and to the testimony of the victim or of any eyewitness to the crime. Jackson, 608 So.2d at 954. Evidence a defendant has engaged in criminal behavior encompassing violence to the person, especially conduct involving the same or similar crime committed in a similar manner, is both relevant and probative on character and propensities. Such evidence generally does not inject an arbitrary factor into the proceedings because of its high probative value with respect to defendant's propensity to commit first degree murder. The incident at the Vining home falls within these parameters. Jerri Vining, the victim's daughter, testified she knew defendant, Boo Robertson, from the neighborhood, and saw him walk through her house while she was sleeping on the couch. She testified she saw defendant walk into her mother's room and put a pillow over her mother's head. Jerri screamed and woke up her mother. Mrs. Vining testified she did not know anything about a pillow, but woke up to hear her daughter screaming Boo, don't hurt my Mama. Defendant then left the home. The testimony of both witnesses was relevant and, indeed, necessary to paint a full picture of defendant's actions that night since Mrs. Vining was not awake at the time Jerri testified she saw defendant place a pillow over her head. Jackson should not be understood to preclude the introduction of significantly relevant evidence. The thrust of Jackson, instead, was to maintain the jury's focus on its function of deciding the appropriate penalty by eliminating marginally relevant evidence that does not aid the jury in performing this function. Any evidence significantly relevant to a defendant's character and propensities is generally admissible. In the instant case, allowing both Mrs. Vining and her daughter to testify briefly did not inject an arbitrary factor into the jury's deliberations.