Bell v. State

Second degree murder; sentence: ten years imprisonment.

In the late afternoon hours of March 30, 1979, Dewey Goins was shot by the appellant while supposedly on a picnic at Spring Creek in Tuscumbia. The appellant was arrested and originally charged with assault with intent to murder. However, upon Goins' death ten days later, he was charged with first degree murder. His trial resulted in a conviction of second degree murder.

The fatal shooting was witnessed by Faye Goins, the deceased's wife, and Calvin Franks, a friend of the appellant. Both testified at the trial; however, at the beginning…