Washington v. State

Mario Washington appeals his conviction and life sentence for first degree murder rendered by the circuit court after a jury trial. His sole point on appeal is that the trial court erred in failing to give the independent act jury instruction. Finding no error in the trial court’s refusal to give the instruction, we affirm.

The victim in this case was shot during a robbery by two gunmen. State witness Frederick Gregory, Jr. testified that Washington and Avery Rahming were the two gunmen. According to Gregory, Washington said that Rahming and he “went and shot the [victim]” because the [victim]…