Barnett v. Commonwealth

Opinion of the Court by

Justice SCHRODER.

Appellant James Barnett appeals as a matter of right from a judgment convicting him of wanton murder and theft. Finding no reversible error, we affirm Appellant’s conviction. We also clarify that under our criminal rules, jurors must be permitted to use their notes during deliberations.

BACKGROUND

On the morning of June 13, 2007, Jamie Townsend saw Appellant driving erratically at a high rate of speed in Clay City, Kentucky. Appellant squealed his tires and pulled into a parking lot where Townsend’s daughter was riding her bicycle. Witnesses saw Appellant…