Aaron Matthew Rentfrow v. United States
The district court erred by failing to grant a mistrial. Error in the following
four respects, viewed in aggregate, deprived Mr. Rentfrow of his Sixth
Amendment right to a fair trial:
1) Failing to limit the number of United States Marshals guarding witness
Brandon Fritts;
2) Failing to cure the prejudice caused by Fritts's testimony regarding his risk
of death, based on his cooperation with the prosecution;
3) Admitting photographs of Mr. Czeck because they lacked probative value
and inflamed the jury; and
4) Failing to dismiss the two jurors who discussed the case and their safety
concerns with each other before deliberations began.
Whether the district court erred in failing to grant a mistrial