State v. Crabtree

CLECKLEY, Justice:

The defendant below and appellant herein, James L. Crabtree, appeals his conviction for recidivism and the underlying convictions for malicious wounding and battery. The defendant contends the trial court committed several errors which justify reversal of the recidivism conviction and the malicious wounding and battery convictions.

I

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Patsy Morrison was found severely beaten on the morning of June 24, 1993, at the Guyan boat docks in Huntington, West Virginia. Discovered next to her body was a bloody stick to which were attached pubic hairs…