People v. Williams

STERNBERG, Judge.

The defendant, Nancy Williams, appeals from a judgment of conviction entered on a jury verdict finding her guilty of second degree murder. On appeal, she asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to accept a witness tendered as being expert in the field of firearms identification. We agree with this contention and, therefore, reverse the judgment and remand the cause for a new trial.

The significance of the expert testimony at issue is revealed by the circumstances of the homicide. The conviction was based on the killing of defendant’s husband who had been…