Supreme Court of Arkansas
Abraham Grant v. State of Arkansas
April 29, 2004357 Ark. 91
Summary
The court affirmed Grant's convictions for capital murder and first-degree battery, holding that the victim's statement identifying Grant as the shooter was admissible as a dying declaration. The victim had multiple gunshot wounds, was lying in a large pool of blood, was sobbing, and was passing in and out of consciousness, supporting an inference that she believed death was imminent. The court also conducted the required review for other reversible error and found none.
Holding
- Admissibility of the victim's statement as a dying declaration. The trial court properly admitted Pittman's statement because the circumstances supported a finding that she made it while believing her death was imminent and concerning the cause of her impending death.
Docket CR 03-1181
Cited authorities
- Ark. R. Evid. 801(c)
- Ark. R. Evid. 802
- Rule 804 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence