Darrell Napoleon Dennis, Appellant v. State of Arkansas, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed Dennis’s convictions and sentences, holding that he did not unequivocally invoke his right to self-representation, that the deceased witness’s prior suppression-hearing testimony was admissible without violating confrontation or hearsay rules, and that Dennis failed to show an actual conflict of interest or prejudice from continued representation by appointed counsel. The court also concluded that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to disqualify counsel. Justice Hart, dissenting, would have held that the circuit court coerced Dennis into accepting counsel and would have reversed and remanded.