Court Opinion

ID: 9778899
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 21:25:17.399961+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:15.590259
License: Public Domain

Jack Holt, Jr., Chief Justice, concurring. I share the majority’s concern over the trial court permitting three West Helena police officers, who had previously testified at trial, to sit within the railing directly facing the jury. These former witnesses were not officers of the court but were city officers attending trial outside their jurisdiction. (Phillips County Circuit Court is located in Helena, not West Helena.) The officers were not deputized, nor were they stationed in the courtroom as bailiffs. Their placement in the face of the jury was for the purpose of intimidation rather than “security,” as claimed by the state. Even though the evidence of guilt as to the kidnapping was overwhelming and, perhaps, as to the theft of property sufficient, we must concern ourselves with the question of what effect did the officers’ intimidation have on the jury in regard to sentencing of the appellant. The answer can be found in the jury’s assessment of sentence. As noted by the majority, the jury gave the maximum sentence for kidnapping and theft of property even though the defendant was a first offender. The majority states, “The resulting prejudice seems clear . ...” I agree. See White v. State of Arkansas, 298 Ark. 163, 765 S.W.2d 949 (1989) (Holt, C.J., dissenting).