Gardiner v. State

Smith, Justice.

William Randall Gardiner shot and killed Michael Patterson on November 7, 1982. Gardiner had earlier sold some baking soda to Patterson under the pretext that it was cocaine. Patterson sought out Gardiner afterward to protest the quality of the goods he had purchased and to get a refund or replacement drugs. Under the guise of obtaining genuine cocaine, Gardiner and his companion, Jennifer Harrell, drove Patterson to an otherwise deserted road in rural Banks County. While Harrell relieved herself in front of their parked car, Patterson and Gardiner quarreled at the rear and…