State of Iowa
v.
Larry Deandre Ratliff Jr
Appellee
State of Iowa
Appellant
Larry Deandre Ratliff Jr
Attorney for the Appellee
Kyle Hanson, Assistant Attorney General
Attorney for the Appellant
Theresa R. Wilson, Assistant Appellate Defender
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, William P. Kelly, Judge. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED. Considered by Vogel, C.J., and Doyle and Mullins, JJ. Opinion by Mullins, J. (18 pages)
On appeal, Larry Ratliff Jr. challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions of first-degree murder, willful injury causing serious injury, and assault with intent to inflict serious injury. Ratliff also asserts his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to object to faulty jury instructions. Ratliff further contends the district court abused its discretion in admitting cumulative and unduly prejudicial photographs into evidence. OPINION HOLDS: We find the jury’s verdicts for murder in the first degree and willful injury causing serious injury are supported by substantial evidence and therefore affirm the judgments and sentences of the district court for those offenses. We find the State failed to establish sufficient evidence for assault with intent to inflict serious injury. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment and sentence for that offense and remand for dismissal of the charge. We find Ratliff’s trial counsel was not ineffective and the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting photographs showing Ratliff holding the murder weapon.