State v. Rafter

Citations

• 2019 Ohio 529

Syllabus

Aggravated murder prior calculation and design gruesome photographs prosecutorial misconduct bad acts. State presented sufficient evidence of purpose to kill with evidence that the suicidal defendant, driving the wrong way on an interstate highway while traveling at maximum speed, swerved into the victim's lane in order to kill himself, knowing that a collision with another vehicle that was severe enough to cause his death would surely cause the death of the driver of the other vehicle. Photographs of the victim in her car immediately after a collision were gruesome, but nevertheless relevant to prove the defendant's intent to kill in that they depicted the force of the collision, thus proving the defendant's intent to kill the victim.