Battle v. State

Hill, Justice.

Robert Lee Battle was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The verdict is supported by the evidence.

During the course of deliberation by the jury, an incident occurred which resulted in a motion for mistrial by the defendant. That motion was made, was overruled, was renewed after the taking of testimony, was again overruled, and was made the basis of the motion for new trial which was overruled. The basis of these motions was that the bailiff had an unauthorized communication with the jury.

Shortly before the return of the verdict, the bailiff was seen at the…