Opinion ID: 1043999
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Context Evidence

Text: This Court has held that evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts may be relevant to provide a contextual background for the case at trial. Gilliland, 22 S.W.3d at 270-72. When evidence is admitted for this purpose, however, the trial court must find that: (1) the absence of the evidence would create a chronological or conceptual void in the state's presentation of its case; (2) the void created by the absence of the evidence would likely result in significant jury confusion as to the material issues or evidence in the case; and (3) the probative value of the evidence is not outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Gilliland, 22 S.W.3d at 272. The State argues that the evidence is admissible pursuant to Gilliland because the evidence fills a chronological void. We disagree. We observe that the absence of the evidence of the acquittals of Mr. Blades and Mr. Tate in this case would not present a chronological void that would confuse the jury. The testimony at trial reflected that this was a cold case and that the Shelby County district attorney general's office investigated the crime for several years until it found a witness who led it to Defendant. The testimony at trial regarding the course of the investigation explained the chronological void and included evidence that other suspects were previously tried for the crime. Evidence of the outcome of another trial, however, does not assist the jury in its understanding of the events. A decision by the trial court to admit the evidence as contextual background evidence applied an incorrect legal standard. Gilliland, 22 S.W.3d at 270. The evidence of the prior acquittals of Mr. Blades and Mr. Tate as context evidence, therefore, was inadmissible.