State v. Skidmore

The present appeal follows a bifurcated trial in which the defendant, Ben Chase Skid-more (hereinafter “defendant”), was found guilty of first degree murder without a recommendation of mercy. The undisputed evidence presented during the trial established that the defendant killed Steve Yarborough by repeatedly striking him with a hammer.

The defendant raises two errors in this appeal: (1) the circuit court erred by permitting the State to introduce evidence of a prior voluntary manslaughter conviction during the penalty phase of the trial without conducting a balancing test pursuant to Rule…