Christopher v. State

Benham, Chief Justice.

This appeal is from Ronald Ray Christopher’s conviction for the murder of his stepson, Timothy Ledbetter. Christopher, married to Ledbetter’s mother, had an altercation with Ledbetter. When Ledbet-ter left the family’s home after the altercation, Christopher armed himself with a pistol, said (according to the victim’s mother) that he was going to kill Ledbetter, and opened the door to look for him. Finding Ledbetter outside the door, Christopher fired twice, the second shot fatally wounding Ledbetter in the head. At the scene, Christopher claimed self-defense and, after…