Kirkland v. the State (two Cases)

Summary

The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the convictions of Mark Kirkland and Kendrick Ogletree for offenses arising from the arson-related deaths of two victims. The court held that the challenged identification procedure and character-related evidence were admissible, Kirkland failed to establish ineffective assistance or plain error, and Ogletree's murder convictions were supported by sufficient evidence. The court nevertheless recognized an erroneous jury instruction concerning the use of other-act evidence but found no reversible prejudice; all Justices concurred.