McCoy v. Delaware

Isaiah McCoy was tried by jury and ultimately sentenced to death. Seven counts were submitted for the jury to decide; McCoy was found guilty as to all but Count 7. Following his convictions for first degree murder, the trial court held a capital murder penalty hearing, after which, the jury found several aggravating circumstances. On appeal, McCoy raised five grounds on which his convictions should have been reversed. After review of all five, the Supreme Court concluded: (1) the trial court committed reversible error when it improperly denied McCoy's right to exercise a peremptory challenge to strike a potential juror; (2) it was reversible error when the prosecutor improperly vouched for the credibility of a key witness for the State; and (3) the pervasive unprofessional conduct of the prosecutor that permeated the proceedings compromised McCoy's right of self-representation. The Court found the other two issues McCoy raised on appeal were without merit. The case was reversed and the matter remanded for a new trial. View "McCoy v. Delaware" on Justia Law