State v. Messenger

Defendant appeals his conviction for murder in the first degree. A maximum term of lif e imprisonment was imposed.

In the early morning of August 7, 1970, the naked body of defendant’s 16-year-old wife was discovered along a road outside the city of Walla Walla, Washington. The probable cause of death was later determined to be asphyxiation. After 4 months of investigation, the state successfully wove a web of circumstances sufficient to convince a jury that defendant had murdered his wife. Defendant did not take the stand at trial.

*831We shall not set forth all of the facts or circumstances…