State v. Morrill

On November 2, 1967, Richard L. Morrill was convicted by a jury in Chittenden County Court of the crime of statutory rape and given a lengthy prison term. His appeal to this court presents-three questions: (1) Whether the deliberation by the jury of only one-half hour means that they must have ignored the court’s charge and ■ based their verdict on. mistake, passion, or prejudice; (2) Whether the charge of the court to the jury invaded the province of the jury and thus denied the appellant his constitutional right to trial by jury; and (3) Whether the court excluded admissible testimony which…