The State, Petitioner v. Helen Marie Douglas, Respondent

Summary

The court held that testimony about Respondent's casual inquiry concerning life insurance on the victim was inadmissible because it had slight probative value and created unfair prejudice. It nevertheless held that admitting the testimony was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in light of the strong physical and circumstantial evidence of guilt and the properly admitted insurance and retirement-benefit evidence. The court therefore upheld Respondent's convictions while affirming in part and reversing in part the intermediate appellate decision.