Cotton v. State

After a jury trial, Kenneth Cotton was found guilty of felony murder while in the commission of aggravated assault on Brandon Watkins. The trial court entered a judgment of conviction on the guilty verdict, and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment. Thereafter, the trial court denied a motion for new trial, and Cotton appeals. 1 1. Cotton initiated a confrontation, claiming that he heard that Watkins had accused him of using drugs. The apparent source of this information was Cotton’s former girlfriend, whom the victim also once dated. Watkins admitted making the accusation, and asked Cotton what he intended to do about it. Cotton responded by drawing a gun. The unarmed victim reacted by cursing and threatening Cotton, but then he walked away. Cotton followed, and Watkins struck him with his fist. Cotton fired three shots, fatally wounding the victim. At trial, Cotton relied on a justification defense.

When construed most strongly in support of the guilty verdict, the evidence was sufficient to authorize a rational trier of fact to find proof beyond a reasonable doubt of Cotton’s guilt of felony murder. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U. S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.