Bunn v. State

INGRAM, Justice.

Patrick Wayne Bunn was convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of Jack McDaniel. At Bunn’s trial, the State presented evidence that, after the shooting, Bunn had fled Alabama. In response to this evidence and in order to explain his flight, Bunn attempted to solicit from Russell Edward Johnson, Bunn’s roommate at the time of the shooting, testimony that Johnson had told Bunn that McDaniel’s family had threatened Bunn’s life. The trial court, on objection from the prosecutor, refused to allow the testimony, holding that it was hearsay.

By a 3-2 vote, the Court of…