State v. Paxton

OPINION

WEISBERG, Judge.

Lawrence D. Paxton (“defendant”) appeals his conviction and life sentence for first degree murder. For the following reasons, we affirm, but modify his sentence to reflect that defendant is entitled to apply for parole after the completion of twenty-five years.

FACTUAL 1 AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In December 1991, defendant was twenty years old and living in the home of his seventeen-year-old friend, Josh Smaulding, and Smaulding’s parents. He and Smaulding shared a room. Neither had a car.

At trial, Smaulding testified to the following version of events. On the morning of…