State v. Durenleau

Defendant Rebecca Durenleau appeals her conviction following a jury trial for the first-degree murder of her husband, Michael Durenleau. Defendant contends that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to establish her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. We agree and reverse.

Defendant claims a number of errors on appeal, but in light of our disposition of this case we consider only her claim regarding insufficiency of the evidence. At the close of the State’s case and after trial, defendant unsuccessfully moved for a judgment of acquittal pursuant to V.R.Cr.E 29, which provides, in…