Thompson v. State

Summary

The court held that the evidence was constitutionally and statutorily sufficient to support Thompson's murder convictions, but that the trial court improperly admitted evidence of a subsequent attempted armed robbery as character evidence. Because the error was not harmless in light of the limited and shifting evidence connecting Thompson to the murders and the State's propensity-based closing argument, the court reversed the convictions. The court upheld admission of evidence concerning Thompson's drug activities, firearm purchase, and the victim's statement about expecting a gun sale, while declining to address the continuance and ineffective-assistance claims.