State v. Smith

William K. Smith appeals his conviction and life sentence for the second degree murder of 15-year-old Raymond M. Witt, who died of multiple injuries after he was beaten, his head was banged against a guardrail, and he was thrown from a balcony to a concrete loading dock some 21 feet below the balcony.

Having waived a jury trial, Smith was tried by a judge of the district court for Douglas County.

On appeal, the defendant claims (1) that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of second degree murder and (2) that the sentence imposed by the trial judge is excessive. We affirm Smith’s…