James v. State

Robert Avon James, appellant, was convicted of second degree murder in the Criminal Court of Baltimore by a jury presided over by Judge Albert L. Sklar. Appellant was sentenced to a term of confinement of 30 years under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correctional Services. On appeal from the judgment of the Criminal Court, appellant asserts that the trial court erred in three respects concerning the validity of his trial.

I. Sufficiency of the evidence.

II. Improper jury instructions.

III. Prejudice to appellant’s right to a fair and impartial trial occasioned by the substitution of a…