State of Arizona v. Preston Alton Strong

Summary

The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed Strong’s six murder convictions and death sentences after rejecting challenges involving preindictment delay, venue, evidentiary rulings, juror misconduct, DNA evidence, discovery, and capital sentencing. The court held that Strong failed to show intentional prosecutorial delay and actual prejudice, that any evidentiary or instructional errors were either unpreserved, nonprejudicial, or cured, and that the aggravating circumstances and sentences were supported by reasonable evidence. The court also concluded that Juror 47 did not remember Strong’s prior murder conviction during jury selection or the guilt phase, eliminating the claimed prejudice.