Potter v. State

Pete Potter was indicted for the ax murder of Mary Lois Pearson. He was found guilty as charged and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Shortly after 6:30 a.m. on January 21, 1981, Mary Lois Pearson's body was found in her bed by her daughter, Stephanie. The deceased had been cut through the neck with one blow from an ax or an ax-like object. (R.111, R.122). This blow which severed the left carotid artery and the left jugular vein caused death within minutes.

There was no evidence of a struggle of any kind and no evidence of movement by the deceased after the fatal blow was delivered. The deceased…