People v. Beeler

BAXTER, J., Concurring and Dissenting.

I respectfully disagree with the majority’s conclusion that the trial court did not err in its handling of the circumstances that arose on the death of Juror Coley’s father. I concur, however, in the majority’s judgment affirming defendant’s conviction and death sentence because the record on appeal does not provide a basis for determining that the error was prejudicial.

Put simply, the situation was this: Juror Coley’s father had died within a few hours before Coley returned to court on Tuesday for the third day of penalty deliberations. Coley told the…