State v. Copen

This is an appeal by Robert D. Copen from an order of the Circuit Court of Kanawha County sentencing him to life in the West Virginia Penitentiary without mercy for first degree murder. On appeal, the appellant claims that the trial court erred in admitting extremely gruesome and prejudicial pictures into evidence, that the court erred in failing to order a mistrial after the State made improper remarks during closing argument, and that the cumulative effect of various trial rulings, by the court created an oppressive in-court atmosphere and deprived him of a fair and impartial trial.

I

FACTS

The…