State v. Wilkins

Bell, Judge:

On February 7, 1989, Alice Postell Wilkins shot and killed William Legree Ferrell in a car on Rushland Landing Road in Charleston County. She was indicted and tried for murder in the Court of General Sessions. The jury found her guilty of voluntary manslaughter for which the court sentenced her to twenty years imprisonment. She appeals her conviction. We reverse and remand.

At trial Wilkins admitted killing Ferrell, but claimed she acted in self defense. The State contended the killing was premeditated. As a critical part of her evidence, Wilkins attempted to introduce expert…