State v. Fields

WHICHARD, Justice.

Defendant was convicted of first degree murder after a non-capital trial. The trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment. We award a new trial for error in refusing a requested jury instruction.

The State’s evidence, in pertinent summary, showed the following:

Connie Williams, defendant’s half-sister, testified that she had been dating Isaiah Barnes, the victim, for two years at the time of his death. On 18 September 1986 the couple was drinking liquor at Robert Cobb’s house. Defendant and his girlfriend were also at Cobb’s house. Defendant left and returned alone several…