State of Idaho v. Robert Dean Hall

Background

Emmett Corrigan was a local attorney in Meridian, Idaho, who employed Kandi Hall as a paralegal beginning in 2010. Shortly after she was hired, Corrigan and Kandi Hall began an affair. Kandi was married to Robert Hall at the time, and Robert grew suspicious as the affair continued. On March 11, 2011, Corrigan and Kandi met to discuss the possibility of divorce proceedings between Kandi and Robert. Later that day, following an argument at the home Kandi shared with Robert in Meridian, Kandi left to pick up a prescription at a local Walgreens. She encountered Corrigan there and got into his vehicle. After learning of the argument between Kandi and Robert, Corrigan answered an incoming call from Robert on Kandi's phone and reportedly threatened him.

The Shooting

The shooting took place in the Walgreens parking lot in Meridian. Surveillance footage showed Robert Hall arriving at the scene and pacing before the confrontation. Kandi Hall testified that she witnessed a heated verbal and physical confrontation between Corrigan and Robert Hall. She attempted to step between the two men but withdrew from the altercation and reported hearing multiple gunshots. Corrigan was shot once in the chest and once in the head and died at the scene. Robert Hall sustained a surface gunshot wound to the side of his head, which he said caused amnesia and left him unable to recall the incident.

Trial

Hall's trial took place in Ada County and lasted more than two weeks. His defense argued that he acted in self-defense and that his amnesia prevented him from accurately recalling the events. Prosecutors countered that Hall's actions were premeditated, noting that he had driven to the scene armed and prepared to confront Corrigan. The jury found Hall guilty of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime. In 2012, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with parole eligibility after 17.5 years.

Appeal

Hall appealed his conviction, arguing that the jury had not been properly instructed on Idaho's self-defense standard, specifically that homicide can be justifiable when committed to avoid great bodily injury. His attorneys also argued that Facebook posts made by Corrigan years earlier, which they said demonstrated a tendency toward violence, should have been considered relevant to the case. The Idaho Supreme Court determined that the jury had received adequate self-defense instructions and that the Facebook posts were not substantial enough to warrant overturning the verdict. In 2016, the court upheld Hall's convictions for second-degree murder and use of a firearm during a crime.

Media Coverage

The case drew significant media attention due to the involvement of a local attorney and the personal relationships among the parties. It was later featured on true-crime programs including Investigation Discovery and Dateline NBC, bringing national attention to the case.