SEARCH

Willis v. State

The erroneous admission of hearsay testimony about prior difficulties between defendant and the victim was harmless where defendant denied that he ever threatened or hit the victim.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Quentin Willis was convicted of the murder of his 18-year-old girlfriend, Tiffany Donovan.1 He contends that the trial court erred in allowing two of the victim’s girlfriends to testify concerning Donovan’s statements about prior difficulties between the defendant and victim when there was direct evidence that was more probative on the issue. Although the hearsay testimony on the prior difficulties should not have been admitted since there was direct evidence about prior acts of violence of similar intensity, the admission of the evidence was harmless. Therefore, we affirm.

1. The evidence presented at trial shows that Donovan, who was right-handed, was shot once on the left side of the head with Willis’s gun. Willis told the 911 operator that he went to the store and when he returned he found that Donovan had shot herself. Police found her lying on her back wearing a shirt, pants, and one sock; her other sock and toenail clippers were under her body. Blood streaks on her face and three separate stains on the mattress cover indicated that her body had been moved. The state’s medical examiner testified that the entry wound shows that the gun’s muzzle was against Donovan’s head when the trigger was pulled. The medical examiner for the defense testified that a press contact wound is found in most suicide cases, but would not be found when there has been a struggle over a gun.

More From ALM

Premium Subscription

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now

Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now

Bundle Subscriptions

Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now

From Data to Decisions

Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends.

Exclusive Depth and Reach.

Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALM’s deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that can’t be found anywhere else.

Big Pictures and Fine Details

Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms’ financials, staffing, clients, news and events.

Southeastern Legal Awards 2025

May 01, 2025
Atlanta, GA

The Daily Report is honoring those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession.

Learn More

GlobeSt. Healthcare Real Estate 2024

December 02, 2024 - December 03, 2024
Scottsdale, AZ

Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers and financiers for the real estate healthcare event of the year!

Learn More

ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Awards 2024

December 11, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

This event shines a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.

Learn More

Associate Litigator

Borteck & Czapek, P.C., based in Florham Park, is a boutique estates and trusts law firm specializing in estate planning and administrat...

Apply Now ›

Gwinnett County: State Court Staff Attorney

Gwinnett County State Court is seeking an attorney to assist the Judge by conducting a variety of legal research, analysis, and document pre...

Apply Now ›

Corporate Counsel

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:(1) Tasks and responsibilities include:Reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements for internal business...

Apply Now ›