Williams v. State

Although the defendant argued that the only evidence supporting his convictions was the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice, the witness at issue was not an accomplice to murder and the other crimes for which the defendant was tried because he was merely a drug dealer who answered the defendant's question regarding possible ingredients to be used in making a fake brick of cocaine, and there was no evidence that he advised, encouraged or counseled the defendant to commit any crime.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Kelvin Williams was convicted of the malice murders of Brian Kyle Stringer and Myron Long, Jr. and other crimes. He appeals from the denial of his motion for new trial.1 Finding no error, we affirm. 1. The jury was authorized to find that victim Stringer was given $22,500 by his father to purchase a kilogram of cocaine. That amount of cocaine was usually sold in a “brick” form wrapped in plastic and bound with duct tape. Stringer contacted co-defendant Quanthony Williams to arrange the purchase. Within minutes of Stringer’s call, Quanthony contacted appellant. Appellant and his co-defendants, however, did not have a kilogram of cocaine to sell. They devised a plan to obtain the money by selling the victims a brick containing a fake substance that would look like cocaine. Rather than research the issue himself, appellant contacted witness Robert Jones on Friday, August 22nd, for information on how to make such a fake brick. Jones, who was preparing to leave town for the weekend, told appellant about two legal substances that could be used to make a fake brick but did not tell appellant what he needed to do with the substances or how to package it. Jones then left town and did not return until the following Monday.

On Sunday, August 24th, co-defendant Robinson gave money to witness John Jackson to use Jackson’s home on Martin Street for a few hours. Shortly after Jackson left the home with witness Holt, they encountered the victims who asked for directions to the residence. Jackson told them where to go and alerted them that “somebody was up there waiting.” Afterwards Jackson and Holt heard gunshots and saw a man run from the back of the house and get into a car out front. When they returned home, Jackson saw the victims’ bodies but could not enter because Robinson still had the key. Jackson later identified Robinson to the police.

Williams v. State

Share with Email

Thank you for sharing!

Trending Stories

More From ALM

Subscribe to Daily Report