Opinion ID: 1878903
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the lower court erred in admitting evidence of other crimes during the murder trial.

Text: ¶ 7. Reynolds' first assignment of error is that the trial court erred in admitting evidence that he put a gun to Robert Mitchum's head and ordered him to leave Cooter's. Reynolds argues that the admission of this testimony violated Mississippi Rule of Evidence 404(b), which states: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident. M.R.E. 404(b). In addition to the exceptions listed within the rule itself, this Court has also held that evidence of other crimes is admissible where the offense charged and that offered to be proved are so interrelated as to constitute a single transaction or occurrence or a closely related series of transactions or occurrences. Neal v. State, 451 So.2d 743, 759 (Miss.1984)(holding that defendant's confession of two murders in addition to one for which he was charged was admissible because omission of said murders would render confession incoherent). The trial court's rulings on the relevance and admissibility of evidence are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Weaver v. State, 713 So.2d 860, 865 (Miss.1997). ¶ 8. As the trial court noted, Mitchum's testimony was relevant in proving count two of the indictment, as well as to show Reynolds' preparation and intent, and thereby differentiate between accident, manslaughter, and murder. In any event, the prior bad act was part of the same transaction. This argument is without merit.