Rice v. State

Paula Rice was tried and convicted for the robbery of a convenience store largely on the testimony of two cohorts who testified on behalf of the state: Bernadette Crucilla, who held the gun, announced the robbery, and received the proceeds from the clerk, and Lisa Walker, who drove the getaway car. Rice claims that the trial court committed reversible error in allowing the prosecution to recall Crucilla and Walker on rebuttal to testify that she also participated in at least two other robberies in which they were involved. We agree with her contentions that the jury was erroneously allowed to…