State v. Muhammad

MARTIN, Chief Judge.

Defendant appeals from a judgment entered upon a jury verdict finding him guilty of the first degree murder of Shelby Tripp Leggett. At trial, the evidence tended to show that defendant was a close friend of Amy Jo Nicholson and spent a great deal of time at her home. Amy Nicholson’s teenage daughter, Rebecca Nicholson, and Rebecca’s daughter also lived in Amy Nicholson’s house. Defendant was very protective of Rebecca. Rebecca’s boyfriend, and the father of her child, was Troy Edwards. Edwards had a criminal history and admittedly used crack cocaine.

On the night of 8…