Commonwealth v. Muckle

Codefendants Paul Muckle and Ricardo Kirby shot several bullets into a parked Volkswagen Jetta automobile. The shooting was both a warning to and an act of revenge against the Jetta’s owner, who was Muckle’s former housemate and who, according to Muckle, wrongfully was withholding Muckle’s personal property as hostage to an overdue bill. Charged with malicious destruction of property over $250, possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition,2 Muckle and Kirby were tried to a jury. The jury eventually found Kirby guilty of all charges,3 with Muckle guilty only of malicious destruction…