People v. Owens

Defendant was charged with murder in the first degree. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment in the state penitentiary. His sole ground for a reversal of the judgment is based on the contention that the evidence is not sufficient to support the verdict and judgment in that there was not sufficient proof of premeditation and intent to justify a conviction of murder in the first degree. We are asked to reduce the offense to murder in the second degree.

Defendant and Penny May Smith, the deceased, had been living together in the relation of husband and wife without the formality…