State v. Bates

Defendant, a nineteen-year-old youth, was charged with the second degree murder of his twelve-year-old brother who died by the discharge of a 410-gauge shotgun. Defendant was found guilty of manslaughter and *264appeals. The only issue on appeal is whether the evidence was sufficient to -sustain the conviction. The case against defendant was largely circumstantial and therefore requires a more detailed examination of the evidence than is usual.

While the testimony was at times contradictory, when it is examined in a manner most favorable to the state, as is required after a verdict of guilt, there…