Court Opinion

ID: 9769311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 14:44:41.677522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:37:00.582189
License: Public Domain

DOUGLAS, Judge
(concurring).
I concur in the result but do not agree that appellant’s wife should have been permitted to testify that appellant received commendations and awards while he was in the Army. Just how far will a trial court have to go at the penalty stage of the trial? Can the State show misconduct of a defendant while he was in the service?
We should not tax overburdened trial courts with proof of a defendant’s life history. If such is permitted, the State will no doubt counter or attempt to show specific acts of misconduct to rebut that offered by a defendant.
We should not lengthen trials with matter which has nothing to do with the issues in the case.