State v. Vuley
Vermont Supreme Court
2013 VT 9 (2013)
Facts
Mark Vuley (defendant) rented a single-family home. Within a period of eight weeks, four fires occurred in the home. Vuley was charged with four counts of arson. Vuley filed a motion to sever the charges, but the trial court denied the motion. The trial judge instructed the jury on the doctrine of chances, which allowed an inference that similar, unusual occurrences happening to the same person were not the result of accident. The jury acquitted Vuley on the first two counts of arson and convicted him on the second two counts. Vuley appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Dooley, J.)
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