State v. Elam

LISA WHITE HARDWICK, Judge.

Gerald Elam was convicted by jury of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and second-degree arson. On appeal, he claims the trial court erred in finding him competent to stand trial and in failing to declare a mistrial sua sponte based on the State’s improper closing arguments. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Factual and Procedural History

We review the facts in a light most favorable to the jury’s verdict. Sometime between late evening June 2, 1997, and the early morning hours of June 3, 1997, Appellant Gerald Elam (Elam) stabbed and killed his…