Court Opinion

ID: 9574089
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:02:11.4669+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:44:05.547513
License: Public Domain

GOOLSBY, J.
(dissenting in part and concurring in part):
I respectfully dissent from that portion of Judge Cureton’s opinion that holds the admission of insurance agent Gary Wayne Walker’s testimony of his discussion with the defendant about her obtaining a quote on life insurance for her husband constituted reversible error. I also dissent from that portion of Judge Cureton’s opinion that reverses the defendant’s convictions for murder and for armed robbery because of the admission of this evidence. In view of the other evidence against the defendant, I regard any error in the admission of the evidence of an inquiry about an insurance quote as “harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” See State v. Tench, 353 S.C. 531, 536, 579 S.E.2d 314, 317 (2003) (admission of challenged evidence deemed harmless). Moreover, I simply fail to see how her inquiring about the purchase of insurance on her husband proves anything, particularly when the evidence does not show the defendant actually bought the insurance or otherwise benefited from it.
I otherwise concur in Judge Cureton’s opinion and would affirm the defendant’s sentences and convictions.