Morgan v. State

The majority upholds Walter Lee Morgan’s murder conviction. I disagree with the majority’s analysis concerning the trial court’s refusal to allow defense witness Larry Hallett to give his opinion of Morgan’s mental condition.

I believe that the trial court erred by refusing to allow Morgan to present testimony from Lawrence Hallett, Morgan’s attorney during his divorce. Morgan wanted Hallett to testify to show Morgan’s state of mind before the murder. The trial court refused to allow Hallett to testify, stating that his testimony would be cumulative to that of Morgan’s 98-year-old neighbor and…