Mitchell v. State

I must dissent from the majority in its affirmance of the trial court's judgment. The trial court committed reversible error in the manner of communication with the jury during deliberations.

We must first examine an incident during trial concerning certain items of evidence which Defendant Mitchell offered into evidence. Mitchell's exhibits 14, 15, 16, and 17 were copies of folders and documents from the Richmond Police Department investigation files, and a partial transcript of grand jury testimony on the murder of James and Bonnie Thomas. The State seized these items from Mitchell's…