Coles

INTRODUCTION

A jury found Eric Jermaine Coles guilty of arson and attempted arson. He raises a number of challenges to his conviction and sentence on appeal and in a related habeas corpus petition. We deny the petition and affirm the judgment.

BACKGROUND

In December 2002 Priscilla Rosales lived with various family members including her mother, Rene Jones, and her sister, Kristina. Defendant was Priscilla’s boyfriend and lived in an abandoned car parked in the garage.

On the evening of December 3, 2002, Kristina had an altercation with the driver of an SUV. After the driver knocked Kristina to the ground, Priscilla urged defendant to “be a man” and “do something.” Defendant was told the SUV had come from the garage of a large apartment building across the street from the residence. Later that night Jones saw defendant walking near the garage and standing at its doorway.

About 11:30 p.m. defendant came to the apartment asking for Priscilla. He looked odd and appeared to be drunk. As he stood at her door, Jones heard a loud gunshot or explosion. Alarms went off and people began leaving the building across the street. Jones later told the police that defendant said he…