State v. Cowman

REYNOLDSON, Justice.

Each of the defendants (mother and son) were indicted for the crime of arson of a dwelling house in violation of § 707.1, The Code, 1971. Following convictions, the jointly-tried cases were consolidated for appeal. We hold these cases must be reversed.

Defendants argue the following errors occurred below: Trial court refused to grant defendants’ motion for continuance, failed to inform defendants or their counsel of a juror’s consultation with the court concerning her bias or prejudice, and overruled defendants’ motion for new trial despite these errors and despite…