State v. Riddick

LAKE, Justice.

The defendant was indicted on 14 February 1994 for the first-degree murder of Michael Fitzgerald Smith. The defendant was tried noncapitally, and the jury found defendant guilty of first-degree minder on the theory of premeditation and deliberation. By judgment and commitment dated 1 June 1994, Judge Brown sentenced defendant to a term of life imprisonment.

At trial, the State presented evidence tending to show that Michael Smith died sometime during the evening of 3 December 1993. Mr. Smith was found at 211 First Street, lying face down in a pool of blood, by an officer from the…