State v. McManus

Leo H. McManus (McManus) appeals from his convictions following a jury trial for second degree murder and the use of a weapon to commit a felony. We reverse, and remand for a new trial because the trial court érred in admitting, for an improper purpose, testimony regarding a prior uncharged “bad act.”

I. BACKGROUND

McManus and Roy T. Jones were employed by C. Dennis Geiser as bricktenders. On the morning of January 2, 1997, McManus met Jones and Geiser at Geiser’s house. The three men rode together in Geiser’s truck to a jobsite in Stapleton, Nebraska. At about noon, they ran out of sand at the…