Elery v. Commonwealth

Opinion of the Court by

Justice NOBLE.

Appellant Michael Elery was convicted of murder, tampering with physical evidence, and violating a protective order. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of probation or parole. Finding no error requiring reversal, this Court affirms his convictions and sentence.

I. Background

Appellant was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Dana McDonald. Before the murder, McDonald and Appellant shared an apartment in Jefferson County, despite the fact that she had obtained a domestic violence order against Appellant.

On the night before the murder,…