State v. Johnson

SHORTESS, Judge.

Rodney “Buford” Johnson (defendant) was charged by grand jury indictment with the first degree murder of Howard Barbier. LSA-R.S. 14:30. He entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. Before jury selection on the day trial began, the State amended the indictment, reducing the charge to second degree murder, LSA-R.S. 14:30.1. At rearraignment, he pled not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. A unanimous jury found defendant guilty as charged. He received a sentence of life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or…