Opinion ID: 2438519
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: trial of both charges in same trial

Text: Gillie next argues that the trial court erred by requiring him to stand trial on both the capital murder and aggravated robbery charges in the same trial. Arkansas R.Crim.P. 21.1 addresses the joinder of offenses and provides as follows: Two (2) or more offenses may be joined in one (1) information or indictment with each offense stated in a separate count, when the offenses, whether felonies or misdemeanors or both: (a) are of the same or similar character, even if not part of a single scheme or plan; or (b) are based on the same conduct or on a series of acts connected together or constituting parts of a single scheme or plan. A trial court's decision to deny a motion for severance is a matter within the discretion of the trial court, and two or more criminal offenses are based ... on a series of acts connected together ... when the offenses occurred close together in time and place. Brown v. State, 304 Ark. 98, 800 S.W.2d 424 (1990). In this case, the capital felony murder occurred on October 29, 1987, at 10:05 p.m. at the Twentieth Century Motel in West Memphis. The aggravated robbery occurred on October 29, 1987, at 11:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Motel in West Memphis. Also, as stated in a previous point of error, the two offenses are factually intertwined in that slugs, shell casings, and a live round found at the crime scenes were traced by means of expert testimony to a .45 caliber pistol that was taken from Gillie upon his arrest in the State of Mississippi. As a result, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Gillie's motion to sever the offenses.