State of Iowa v. Kevin Deshay Ambrose

CADY, Chief Justice.

In this appeal from a conviction for murder in the first degree and other criminal offenses, we consider claims of trial error based primarily on jury instructions relating to the order in which the jury was instructed to consider greater and lesser offenses and various permissible inferences of malice. On our review, we conclude the acquittal-first instruction was not prejudicial, and the inference instructions were not erroneous. We affirm the judgment and sentence of the district court.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

This case arises from a shooting that occurred on…