Lajason Jaquize Coakley v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed Coakley's first-degree-murder conviction and life sentence. It held that substantial evidence supported the finding that he acted with the purpose of causing death, that evidence of three prior incidents involving the victim or his brother was admissible to prove motive and intent, and that refusal to give a justification-for-manslaughter instruction was not prejudicial because the jury convicted him of the greater offense.