Pennell v. State

MOORE, Justice.

The appellant, Steven B. Pennell (“Pen-nell”), was indicted and tried on three counts of first degree murder. The State claimed that these were “serial” murders. Pennell was convicted on two of those counts, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third count. The jury imposed two life sentences on the defendant.

Pennell claims that: (a) the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a mistrial based upon remarks made by the prosecutor in her final summation to the jury; (b) the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence concerning the…