Smith v. State

Summary

The court affirmed Smith’s convictions, rejecting his challenges to the denial of mistrials and to two evidentiary rulings. It held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in requiring further jury deliberations because the total circumstances did not show coercion or a hopeless deadlock. It also held that the jail telephone recording and portions of Smith’s statement concerning drug use were properly admitted because their probative value was not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice and the drug-use evidence was intrinsic to the charged offenses.