Shelton v. State

There was no likelihood of confusion from a joint trial, since there were only two co-defendants who acted in concert to rob and kill the victim and their defenses were not antagonistic.

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Appellant William Lee Shelton was convicted of malice murder and robbery by force in connection with the strangulation and robbery of Matthew Proctor and sentenced to life imprisonment.1 He appeals from the denial of his motion for new trial, and we affirm. 1. The evidence adduced at trial authorized the jury to find that appellant and his co-defendant, Jeremy Crawford, were riding in Proctor’s car in Meriwether County when appellant, sitting in the backseat, strangled Proctor with a belt. They placed Proctor’s body in the trunk of the car and drove to a nearby restaurant where they met a friend, Shannon Giles. Giles noticed Crawford had blood on his pants, and upon further questioning, appellant told her that, at that time, “there were three people in the car.” Later in the day Crawford told Giles, in the presence of appellant, that he and appellant killed Proctor and put him in the trunk of the car. Crawford showed her the body, from which Giles heard sounds “like the air was coming out of his lungs.” Crawford also took $700 from Proctor’s sock and gave Giles $100. Appellant and Crawford hid the body under a boat located on Giles’ property. Three days later appellant and Crawford retrieved the body and buried it in a Pike County sand pit. Appellant subsequently was involved in an automobile accident in Proctor’s car. In investigating the accident, police discovered Proctor’s blood in the trunk of the car and further investigation led to the recovery of Proctor’s body. Upon learning of the accident, Crawford told two individuals that he and appellant killed Proctor and stole his car and money.

Reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude there was sufficient evidence to authorize the jury to find appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes for which he was convicted. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U.S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.

Shelton v. State

There was no likelihood of confusion from a joint trial, since there were only two co-defendants who acted in concert to rob and kill the victim and their defenses were not antagonistic.

Share with Email

Thank you for sharing!

Trending Stories

More From ALM

Subscribe to Daily Report