Stamps v. State

DICKSON, Justice.

Defendant Richard Stamps was convicted of murder. In this direct appeal he presents the following issues:

1. denial of fair trial because of prosecutor's peremptory challenges;

2. application of Patterson exception to hearsay rule;

8. admissibility of cropped photograph of victim;

4. opinion testimony.

We affirm.

1. Peremptory Challenges

Defendant first contends that the trial court erred in subjecting him, a black man, to a jury trial in which the State had improperly used its peremptory challenges to exclude two black persons from the jury.

The equal protection clause of the…