Robertson v. Arkansas

Appellant Derrick Robertson appealed his first-degree murder conviction and life sentence. On appeal, he argued that the circuit court erred in admitting multiple photographs of the victim and scene of the crime. Many of the photographs included close-up images of the victim. Appellant conceded that he shot the victim multiple times, and that showing as many photographs to something he conceded from the onset harmed his âjustificationâ defense before the jury. The State asserts that the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the photographs, and that there was no prejudice from their admission. The court sustained Appellantâs objections to some of the images, but permitted the introduction of others over Appellantâs objections. The Supreme Court found no prejudicial error, and affirmed the lower courtâs decision.