Snyder v. State

William A. Snyder was convicted of three counts of murder made capital because the three murders were committed during the course of a burglary, see § 13A-5-40(a)(4), Ala. Code 1975, and one count of murder made capital because two or more victims were killed by one act or pursuant to one scheme of conduct, see §13A-5-40(a)(10), Ala. Code 1975. The trial court sentenced Snyder to death. The Court of Criminal Appeals, relying on Ex parteMinor, 780 So.2d 796 (Ala. 2000), held that the trial court committed plain error when it instructed the jury that the evidence of Snyder's prior conviction…