State v. Young

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Beier, J.:

Donald C. Young appeals his first-degree murder and aggravated battery convictions. He challenges the district court’s instruction on felony murder, its admission of State witness Rodney Hickman’s preliminary hearing testimony because of his unavailability at trial, its refusal to instruct on simple battery and failure to instruct on attempted aggravated battery, and its declaration that Young’s father was a hostile witness.

The charges against Young arose out of a drug deal. Kevin Horn, the eventual murder victim, and Daina Frencher drove to…