Billy Dale Green v. State of Arkansas

Summary

The court affirmed the convictions against the directed-verdict, privilege, chain-of-custody, and closing-argument challenges, but held that the admission of extensive reputation and other-bad-acts evidence was reversible error. Because the death-penalty review rule required review of unobjected-to evidentiary errors affecting substantial rights, the court reversed and remanded for a new trial. Justice Brown concurred in the result but would have based reversal on the failure to give curative admonitions, while Justice Gunter, joined by Justices Glaze and Dickey, would have affirmed because the evidence was relevant to motive and intent.