State v. Bryant

Chief Justice TOAL:

We granted Petitioner a writ of certiorari to review State v. Bryant, 356 S.C. 485, 589 S.E.2d 775 (Ct.App.2003), in which the court of appeals affirmed the trial court’s admission of Petitioner’s two prior firearms convictions. We reverse.

FACTUAL/PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Petitioner has been confined to a wheelchair for over twenty years due to a car accident. On July 22, 1999, he was visiting the Bottoms Up strip club, where he met the victim, Daniel Fletcher Austin. At approximately 3:30 a.m., the two left the club together to go back to Petitioner’s hotel room.

Between 3:30…