{
  "id": 1755025,
  "name": "Robert KILLMAN v. STATE of Arkansas",
  "name_abbreviation": "Killman v. State",
  "decision_date": "1981-12-21",
  "docket_number": "CR 81-122",
  "first_page": "422",
  "last_page": "426",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "274 Ark. 422"
    },
    {
      "type": "parallel",
      "cite": "625 S.W.2d 489"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "269 Ark. 119",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
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      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1980,
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        "/ark/269/0119-01"
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    {
      "cite": "266 Ark. 410",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        8719220
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1979,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/266/0410-01"
      ]
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    {
      "cite": "255 Ark. 540",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        8722655
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1973,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/255/0540-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "267 Ark. 638",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1719809
      ],
      "weight": 2,
      "year": 1980,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/267/0638-01"
      ]
    }
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:01:13.587143+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "Hickman and Purtle, JJ., concur.",
      "Purtle, J., joins."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "Robert KILLMAN v. STATE of Arkansas"
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Richard B. Adkisson, Chief Justice.\nAppellant, Robert Killman, was convicted of second-degree battery. The jury fixed his punishment at three years imprisonment but recommended that two years be suspended. The court accepted the jury\u2019s recommendation and entered judgment accordingly. We affirm.\nThe evidence at trial showed that the incident occurred in Walnut Ridge at the home of William McCrory, a mutual friend of the victim and appellant. The victim arrived at the home and became angry because his girlfriend had driven appellant\u2019s car to go get some beer. After an exchange of words, appellant pulled a gun and shot the victim twice. At trial, appellant relied on self-defense as justification for the shooting.\nAppellant argues for reversal that he should have been allowed to elicit opinion testimony from a psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel R. Frances, to the effect that appellant was not a violent person since this was relevant to both the crime with which he was charged and his defense, citing Finnie v. State, 267 Ark. 638, 593 S.W. 2d 32 (1980). Appellant relies upon Uniform Rules of Evidence, Ark. Stat. Arm. \u00a7 28-1001 (Repl. 1979):\nRule 404. Character evidence not admissible to prove conduct, exceptions \u2014 Other crimes. \u2014 (a) Character Evidence Generally. Evidence of a person\u2019s character or a trait of his character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion, except:\n(1) Character of accused. Evidence of a pertinent trait of his character offered by an accused, or by the prosecution to rebut the same; . . .\nRule 405. Methods of proving character. \u2014 (a) Reputation or Opinion. In all cases in which evidence of character or a trait of character of a person is admissible, proof may be made by testimony as to reputation or by testimony in the form of an opinion. On cross-examination, inquiry is allowable into relevant specific instances of conduct.\nUnder the above rules it is clear that a defendant can introduce into evidence pertinent traits of character. However, Uniform Rules of Evidence, Ark. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 28-1001 (Repl. 1979), Rule 103 states:\n(a) Error may not be predicated upon a ruling which . . . excludes evidence unless a substantial right of the party is affected, and\n(2) [T]he substance of the evidence was made known to the court by offer or was apparent from the context within which questions were asked.\nHere, the record reflects that at trial appellant attempted to introduce Dr. Frances\u2019s testimony only for the purpose of mitigation of punishment and not to show a character trait of nonviolence. Therefore, the substance of the evidence which appellant attempted to introduce was not sufficiently made known to the trial court and was not apparent from the context of the questions appellant asked Dr. Frances. Before an issue is preserved for review on appeal, it must first be raised in the trial court.\nAppellant next argues that Dr. Frances should have been allowed to testify, as a mitigating circumstance for the j ury to consider, that appellant was nota violent person and not a danger to the community and, therefore, was not in need of rehabilitation. This Court addressed this issue in Fields v. State, 255 Ark. 540, 502 S.W. 2d 480 (1973) and held that \u201cThe effect upon an individual of being sent to the penitentiary has nothing to do with one\u2019s guilt or innocence on the charge being tried... [and] such testimony is entirely and completely irrelevant.\u201d\nThe Arkansas Criminal Code, Article 3, Ark. Stat. Ann. \u00a7\u00a741-801 \u2014 1351 (Repl. 1977) provides for the disposition of offenders. Section 41-802 provides that \u201c[T]he jury shall fix punishment as authorized by this Article.\u201d (Emphasis added) Section 41-803 provides \u201cNo defendant convicted of an offense shall be sentenced otherwise than in accordance with this Article.\u201d (Emphasis added)\nSection 41-1201 sets out the criteria for the court in making a determination as to suspension or probation. This section sets out 17 separate matters for consideration to guide the court in determining whether or not a person should be sent to the penitentiary. Therefore, questions of mitigation are properly presented to the court which has the responsibility of sentencing after the maximum punishment is fixed by the jury. The Commentary to this section outlines various legislative acts the trial court should consider in sentencing and provides:\nBy suggesting mitigating circumstances to which the defendant can call the court\u2019s attention, the Commission hopes to encourage the use of suspension or probation as alternatives to imprisonment.\nIt is clearly the intent of the Arkansas Criminal Code that mitigating circumstances be left for the consideration of the sentencing court.\nFinally, appellant argues that the jury\u2019s verdict was not supported by the weight of the evidence because the State\u2019s evidence was not sufficient to overcome appellant\u2019s assertion of self-defense. This argument is without merit. The State must prove each element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, which includes negating the defense of justification once it is put in issue. See Peals v. State, 266 Ark. 410, 584 S.W. 2d 1 (1979); Ark. Stat. Ann. \u00a7 41-115 (5) (c) (Repl. 1977). However, once the jury decides that the defendant was not justified in his actions, the State\u2019s burden is automatically met. In this case the jury, by finding appellant guilty, also found that the State had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, including the negation of. appellant\u2019s defense.\nIf the jury\u2019s verdict is appealed, this Court looks to whether there is substantial evidence to support the verdict. Jones v. State, 269 Ark. 119, 598 S.W. 2d 748 (1980). After considering the testimony of the victim, two eyewitnesses to the shooting, and a police officer who took a statement from appellant, we conclude there is substantial evidence in this case to support the jury\u2019s verdict.\nAffirmed.\nHickman and Purtle, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Richard B. Adkisson, Chief Justice."
      },
      {
        "text": "Darrell Hickman, Justice,\nconcurring. I concur with the result. I disagree with the language in the opinion that could be interpreted to unduly limit a defendant from presenting evidence in mitigation.\nPurtle, J., joins.",
        "type": "concurrence",
        "author": "Darrell Hickman, Justice,"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Robert F. Andrews, for appellant.",
      "Steve Clark, Atty. Gen., by: Alice Ann Burns, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Robert KILLMAN v. STATE of Arkansas\nCR 81-122\n625 S.W. 2d 489\nSupreme Court of Arkansas\nOpinion delivered December 21, 1981\nRobert F. Andrews, for appellant.\nSteve Clark, Atty. Gen., by: Alice Ann Burns, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0422-01",
  "first_page_order": 450,
  "last_page_order": 454
}