In People v. Brown , Kathleen Brown was charged with arson and assault (both in the second degree).
Apparently, when advised she was going to be evicted from her apartment, Brown set the joint on fire.
At trial, the prosecutors established that the fire was intentional and that Brown had torched another apartment from which she had been evicted.
After the Erie County Court jury convicted Brown, she argued all that evidence shouldn't have been considered and that her conviction was overly punitive in nature.
Since the evidence established her intent and guilt, and the outcome wasn't "unduly harsh or severe," the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, affirmed the conviction.
This one fired us up!
To download a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: People v. Brown