(Des Moines)– The Iowa Court of Appeals has refused to block evidence that a man charged with vehicular homicide who was hiding in a closet when police arrived at his home.
Tyrone Lindsay of Milford argued the evidence was aimed at inflaming the jury. The appeals court disagreed.
Lindsay was accused in a one-car crash in Osceola county in September 2000 that killed a passenger, Rodney Rozelle-Cantando of Tucson, Arizona. Tests later showed Lindsay was driving drunk. He was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The appeals court also disagreed with Lindsay’s claim that he received inadequate counsel. Lindsay maintained his lawyer should have told the jury that an animal running across the road caused the wreck. The appeals court says there’s no evidence to show that was the sole cause of death.
Lindsay also claimed his counsel should have argued the 150-thousand dollar restitution awarded to the victim’s estate violated his right to due process and that it was excessive; and that his attorney failed to adequately explain a plea offer. The appeals court rejected all those claims.
