Harris v. Poppell

Benjamin Charles Harris was convicted of first-degree murder, OKLA. STAT. tit. 21, § 701.7, after a jury trial in the district court of Jackson County, Oklahoma. The court sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole. Mr. Harris argued on direct appeal that the trial court erred in admitting two videotapes that illustrated the testimony of the states expert witness. The videos supported the states theory and undermined Mr. Harriss theory of self-defense. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ("OCCA") rejected Mr. Harriss challenge to the video reenactments and affirmed his conviction. See Harris v. State, 13 P.3d 489, 492-97 (Okla. Crim. App. 2000).