Crowe v. State
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
485 So. 2d 351 (1986)
- Written by Sharon Feldman, JD
Facts
Coy Crowe (defendant) was indicted for the capital murder of James Taylor, a deputy sheriff. Taylor’s widow sat at the counsel table with the prosecutor during Crowe’s trial. Taylor’s brother testified that the woman sitting at the prosecutor’s table was his deceased brother’s wife. Crowe objected to Taylor’s widow sitting at the counsel table. When Taylor’s widow started crying during the graphic testimony of the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Taylor, Crowe renewed his objection. After a hearing in the trial judge’s chambers, the judge declined to remove Taylor’s widow from the counsel table but did grant Crowe’s request for a short recess to allow Taylor’s widow to compose herself. No other incidents occurred, and Taylor’s widow conducted herself properly for the duration of the trial. Crowe was convicted and sentenced to death by electrocution. On appeal, Crowe argued, in part, that permitting Taylor’s widow to sit at the counsel table with the prosecutor violated his constitutional rights.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Tyson, J.)
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