State v. Atwood

LARSON, Justice.

Jeremy Atwood was convicted of two counts of vehicular homicide under Iowa Code section 707.6A(l)(b) (1997). He appealed, challenging the district court’s refusal to change venue and several rulings made during trial. His main challenge, however, arises out of the trial court’s handling of an anonymous telephone threat during the trial. We treat this last issue first.

I. The Threat.

This case, which involved the deaths of two young children who were struck by the defendant’s car, evoked strong emotions in the local community. During the trial, on the morning scheduled for final…