State v. Brown

DURHAM, Justice:

Defendant Donald Wayne Brown and three other men were charged in the beating death of Miguel Ramirez at the Western Brine Shrimp harvesting camp. Brown appeals his convictions of second degree murder, a first degree felony, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-203, and aggravated assault, a third degree felony, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-103. We reverse and remand for a new trial because of defense counsel’s conflict of interest. We also address other issues that may be relevant to the new trial.

In October 1989, Brown and eight other employees were in the Western Brine Shrimp…