Opinion ID: 1285642
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Admissibility of letters to Virgil Howard

Text: Over appellant's objection, the trial judge admitted appellant's letters to Virgil Howard ruling they were probative on the issues of identity and motive and their probative value outweighed any unfair prejudicial effect. Appellant contends this was error. Under Rule 401, SCRE, evidence is relevant if it has a direct bearing upon and tends to establish or make more or less probable the matter in controversy. The first letter makes more probable appellant's identity as the barbershop murderer since the cab driver murder to which the letter refers was committed with the same gun. This letter also goes to show motive in its reference to appellant's need for money. The second letter refers to appellant's robbery of a place with a safe, a detail that fits the barbershop crime and makes more probable appellant's identity as the perpetrator. This letter also goes to the issue of motive. Appellant complains the reference to the safe is unfairly prejudicial because there is no evidence establishing that the safe referred to is the one located in the barbershop. This second letter, although undated, refers to the Soul Train Music Awards which the prosecution established occurred on March 29, 1996. Accordingly, the safe incident referred to in appellant's letter must have occurred sometime between February 2, when he was released from jail, and the end of March 1996, putting it within the time frame of the barbershop killings. We find these letters relevant to establish appellant's motive and identity as the barbershop killer. Further, despite their violent and boastful tone, the probative value of these letters outweighs any unfair prejudice in light of the details matching both crimes.