State v. Powell

SOMERVILLE, Chief Judge.

On December 2, 1977, a two count indictment was returned against defendant. Count I charged defendant with murder in the second degree (Section 559.020, RSMo 1969), and named his wife, Rhonda Powell, as the victim; Count II charged defendant with assault with intent to kill with malice aforethought (Section 559.180, RSMo 1969), and named Rosalyn Simpson as the victim. The indictment charged that both offenses occurred on January 21, 1977, in Jackson County, Missouri.

It is appropriate to set forth the chronology of this case in order to explain the lapse of time between…