State v. Vonte Skinner (071764)

In the criminal trial of defendant, Vonte Skinner, on attempted murder and related charges, a State’s witness was permitted to read to the jury, at great length, violent and profane rap lyrics that had been written by defendant before the events at issue. There was no assertion at trial that the violence-laden verses were in any way revealing of some specific factual connection that strongly tied defendant to the underlying incident. Nevertheless, the State maintained that the lyrics helped to demonstrate defendant’s “motive and intent” in connection with the offense because the rap lyrics…