State v. Anthony Moore

Citations

• 154 A.3d 472
• 2017 WL 754091
• 2017 R.I. LEXIS 23

Syllabus

This matter came before the Supreme Court on appeal from the defendant, Anthony Moore's judgment of conviction on three counts: first-degree murder conspiracy to commit murder and using a firearm when committing a crime of violence. On appeal, Moore argued that the trial justice erred in: his denial of the defendant's motion for a new trial his refusal to provide an \empty chair\ instruction to the jury and his rulings on certain evidentiary matters. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Superior Court. With respect to the defendant's motion for a new trial, the Court rejected the defendant's argument alleging that discrepancies in the trial witnesses' testimony justified a new trial. The Court recognized inconsistencies but classified them as relating to minor details insufficient to undercut the trial justice's credibility determinations, which deserved the Court's deference. Further, in relation to the defendant's assertion that the trial justice erred in refusing to provide an \empty chair\ jury instruction pertaining to Robert Winston's absence at trial, the Court held that the trial justice followed its existing jurisprudence and gleaned no error in his instruction. The Court further rejected the defendant's request to alter its current rule. Finally, the Court held that the trial justice acted within his discretion in all of the evidentiary rulings that the defendant challenged.