Opinion ID: 2275841
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony of Warren Eckert.

Text: During the sentencing phase of the trial, the State elicited victim-impact testimony from Warren Eckert. In response to a question posed by the State to Mr. Eckert regarding the victim's religious activities, the appellant simply stated, Your Honor, I object to any introduction with religion. The trial court overruled the objection, allowing Mr. Eckert to testify regarding Ms. Heath's involvement in her church. During Mr. Eckert's subsequent testimony, the appellant requested a bench conference, where he made the following objection: Your Honor, I object to this entire line of testimony. This is not permissible under any circumstances. It's not an aggravating circumstance of any statute and its [sic] not a victim-impact statement by law. This is just him telling the jury about the victim and her tactics and such. After a brief discussion, the trial court again overruled the appellant's objection. Mr. Eckert then testified that Ms. Heath regularly rode to church with her children on the church bus and that she had volunteered to substitute for an absent Bible class teacher on more than one occasion. The appellant now contends that the trial court erred when it allowed Mr. Eckert to testify about Ms. Heath's religious activities because such evidence was irrelevant under Ark. R. Evid. 401, 402, and 403 (1999) and inadmissible pursuant to Ark. R. Evid. 610 (1999). However, the appellant did not make the specific arguments below that he now advances. It is well settled by this Court that parties are bound on appeal by the scope and nature of their objections at trial. E.g., Ayers v. State, 334 Ark. 258, 264, 975 S.W.2d 88, 91 (1998). Because appellant's arguments on appeal clearly exceed the scope and nature of his objections at trial, his arguments in this regard are barred.