Kansas man Jeffrey Wade Chapman is worried about something pretty big while facing charges of first degree murder. He’s worried that his gigantic neck tattoo reading “Murder” might prejudice the jury.
Chapman is asking that a tattoo artist be allowed to come to his prison so the tattoo can be covered up. It’s too large to be easily hidden by clothing, reports the Great Bend Tribune.
Chapman’s attorney Kurt Kerns has filed a motion reading, “Mr. Chapman has secured a licensed tattoo artist from Hays who is willing to go to the jail. Mr. Chapman’s tattoos are not relevant to any material facts and Mr. Chapman asks for the court to exclude any mention of his tattoos at trial and further to be allowed to cover them up in an appropriate manner. The fact that he has ‘Murder’ tattooed across his neck is irrelevant to the State’s case and extremely prejudicial to Mr. Chapman if introduced at trial or observed by the jury.”
Kansas Assistant Attorney General Steven A. Karrer, who is trying the case, responded that they do not, “oppose the defendant from covering his tattoo using clothing, bandage or other means compliant with jail policy.” The issue is that state law prohibits tattoo artists from doing their work anywhere other than a licensed facility.
Chapman is accused of murdering Damon Galliart on November 11, 2011.