Watson v. State

Elmer Watson was convicted by a jury of first degree murder and was sentenced by the trial court to life imprisonment. His major point on appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant a mistrial following an allegedly prejudicial outburst in the courtroom during the course of the trial.

The evidence adduced at trial reveals that the fatal shooting of Archibold Pinder occurred after the defendant entered the deceased’s print shop and asked Pinder if he could borrow a sum of money. The shooting occurred after Pinder refused to make the loan. It is admitted that the…