Gay v. State

Thompson, Justice.

Charles “Metro” Gay was convicted of malice murder in connection with the shooting death of Shakela Jones. On appeal, Gay asserts that the trial court improperly admitted certain hearsay testimony under the necessity exception to the hearsay rule and in violation of the confrontation clauses of the federal and state constitutions. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.

Eight-year-old Shakela Jones died from a gunshot wound to her abdomen. Viewed in a light favorable to the verdict, the evidence reveals that, in the weeks leading up to her murder, Shakela’s stepfather,…