United States v. John Andrew Greschner, Ronnie Joe Criswell

HOLLOWAY, Chief Judge.

The defendants-appellants John Greschner and Ronnie Criswell timely appeal their convictions and sentences for first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. 1 The cases arose out of a homicide committed at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Government witnesses testified that on October 6, 1988 at a prison stairwell Criswell struck inmate Andreason with a pipe and then both defendants stabbed Andrea-son with homemade knives, repeatedly inflicting numerous wounds to Andreason’s back. The wounds resulted in his death by exsanguination. Some Government…