Perry v. State

Darrell Hickman, Justice.

The appellant, William Walter Perry, was convicted of the first degree murder of his wife and sentenced to life in prison. The sole question presented by his appeal is whether inculpatory statements Perry made to his minister were confidential and, therefore, privileged. We hold that Perry waived his right to any privilege and affirm the trial court.

Lynn Perry, the appellant’s wife, was shot through the head on June 9, 1982. At approximately 7 p.m., June 10th, Perry called Betty Tyner, his mother-in-law, in Pocahontas, Arkansas, and told her that he had killed Lynn.…