Thomas v. State

COBB, Judge.

The defendant, Paul Louis Thomas, was tried for robbery. At trial defense counsel moved for the court to allow Thomas to display his upper body to the jury without subjecting himself to cross-examination. One of the robbery victims previously had testified that she observed no marks, tattoos, or chest hair on the shirtless robber. The motion was denied and the defendant was convicted.

On appeal it is contended that denial of the motion for the defendant to silently exhibit his torso to the jury was reversible error. The argument is that such a physical exhibition, had it been…