Opinion ID: 1058342
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: And I knew I was wanted in other states, so I stabbed him.

Text: This statement is relevant to explain the defendant's motive for the murder of the victim and that the murder was committed premeditatively. The statement that he was wanted in other states did not reveal the nature of the offenses for which he was wanted. Moreover, the statement proved a relevant non-character purpose, i.e., his motive, for stabbing the victim with the requisite mental state. Motive is a relevant circumstantial fact that refers to why a defendant did what he did. Evidence of motive is often pertinent as the basis to infer that the act was committed, to prove requisite mental state, or to prove the identity of the actor. See 22 C. Wright & K. Graham, Jr., Federal Practice and Procedure Evidence § at 479 (1978). Indeed, the defendant's possession of a motive strengthens the inference that the death of the victim was caused by an intentional act rather than by a natural accident. There is sufficient evidence to show that the defendant's wanted status was relevant to show motive and that motive was a relevant noncharacter purpose in this case. The State did not seek its introduction for propensity purposes. Finally, in making a risk versus benefit analysis in this case, we cannot conclude that the prejudicial impact of the statement outweighed its probative value. Accordingly, the admission of the statement was not error nor was the fact that the prosecutor referred to the admission during closing argument.