Virginia Ann Hyatt v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed Virginia Hyatt's capital-murder conviction and life-without-parole sentence, holding that substantial circumstantial evidence supported both her identity as the killer and the required premeditated and deliberated purpose. The court relied on her motive, harassment of the victim, access to a matching firearm, surveillance evidence, inconsistent statements, and postcrime conduct, and concluded that the circuit court properly denied her directed-verdict motion. Justice Baker, dissenting, would have reversed and dismissed because the evidence allegedly required speculation and because a body-submission form was improperly admitted.