Legal Opinion

State v. Commander

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided October 31, 2011No. 27062PublishedCited by 32 opinions

1Opinion of the CourtChief Justice Toal

Petitioner appeals State v. Commander, 384 S.C. 66, 681 S.E.2d 31 (Ct.App.2009), claiming the court of appeals erred by affirming the trial court’s admission of expert testimony concerning the victim’s manner of death and refusal to instruct the jury on the defense of accident. We affirm the court of appeals’ decision as modified.

Facts/Procedural Background

On January 7, 2005, family members discovered Gervonya Goodwin’s (Victim) mummified1 and partially decomposed body covered by a blanket and lying on a sofa inside her home.2 Victim’s family members and friends had not seen or spoken to her…

2Cases cited37 opinions

Delaware v. Van ArsdallSupreme Court of the United States · 1986
State v. BaccusSupreme Court of South Carolina · 2006
State v. PittmanSupreme Court of South Carolina · 2007
State v. GentrySupreme Court of South Carolina · 2005
State v. MitchellSupreme Court of South Carolina · 1985

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3Cited by32 opinions

State of Iowa v. Hillary Lee TylerSupreme Court of Iowa · 2015
State v. BlackSupreme Court of South Carolina · 2012
State v. SOSNOWICZCourt of Appeals of Arizona · 2012
State v. BrockmeyerSupreme Court of South Carolina · 2013
Keene v. CNA Holdings, LLCCourt of Appeals of South Carolina · 2019

27 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.