Anderson v. State

Fletcher, Justice.

Ricky Anderson was convicted of murdering Jerry Cowan. Anderson appeals and we reverse.

On the evening of December 3, 1988, several people, including appellant and his brother Marc, gathered for an impromptu drinking party at Jerry Cowan’s home. At some point in the evening, Cowan found Marc Anderson sitting on Cowan’s wife’s lap. Cowan grabbed his wife, took her into another room and struck her twice. When appellant attempted to intervene, Cowan began fighting with him. Cowan generally carried a hunting knife on his person and, during this first altercation with appellant,…