People v. Walker

Defendant, James Walker, appeals from his conviction for the felony murder of a cab driver and his sentence of life imprisonment.

According to the evidence adduced at defendant’s jury trial, he and Xavier D. Williams were together about 5 or 6 p.m. on the evening of March 16, 1984, an both men were without funds. They decided to call a cab and rob the cab driver. Walker decided that Yellow Cab should be called because it employed white drivers. (Walker and Williams are black.) When the cab came, the two men got into the back seat of the cab, with Walker sitting behind the driver. They gave the…