State v. Rogers

Defendant Rogers petitioned this court to review the proceedings in the Court of Appeals which, in an unpublished opinion, affirmed a judgment of guilty of murder in the second degree. The issue presented is whether a general intent to commit murder may be presumed from *554the proven fact that Rogers was armed with and used an unlicensed handgun to mortally and unlawfully kill another. We hold such a presumption unconstitutional as used, but affirm the jury verdict.

The facts as the jury could have found them are these. Defendant and the decedent, Robert D. Williams, resided in Duvall, King…