Muhammad v. State

The defendant removed a nozzle from a gas pump, sprayed the victim with gasoline and lit her on fire, causing the victim to die from her burns approximately one month later.

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Following a bench trial, Anjail Durriyyah Muhammad was found guilty of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and arson in the first degree in connection with the death of Nodiana Antoine.1 Muhammad appeals, contending only that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain her convictions. Finding no error, we affirm. Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the evidence shows that, on May 25, 2003, Muhammad and Antoine were physically fighting at a Chevron gas station in Cobb County, Georgia. Pamela Robinson saw the two women fighting and went inside the gas station to tell the attendant to call the police. Muhammad, who was dragging Antoine around by her shirt collar, removed one of the nozzles from a gas pump and sprayed Antoine with gasoline. After doing so, Muhammad approached Robinson and calmly asked her if she had a lighter. Robinson said she did not, and Muhammad then dragged Antoine to Muhammad’s car, which was parked across the street.

Muhammad retrieved a lighter from her car and clicked it five to ten times before Antoine burst into flames and ran into the street. Bystanders yelled at Antoine to get on the ground and roll to extinguish the flames, and tried to help her put out the flames. Shortly after the flames surrounding Antoine were put out, William Bell, an engineer with the Cobb County Fire Department, arrived on the scene. At that time, Antoine was screaming that “Muhammad threw gasoline on me and set me on fire.” Another fire engineer, Sergeant Jeff Burris, also arrived on the scene, and Antoine told him that Muhammad had burned her. While en route to the hospital, Antoine also told a paramedic treating her that Muhammad had “sprayed gas on her and lit her on fire.” Antoine remained in the hospital for approximately a month and a half before she died due to her burns.

Muhammad v. State

The defendant removed a nozzle from a gas pump, sprayed the victim with gasoline and lit her on fire, causing the victim to die from her burns approximately one month later.

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