Ford v. State

BOEHM, Justice.

James Ford was convicted of the murder of Lorenzo Lee and sentenced to sixty-five years imprisonment. Ford raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred when it instructed the jury on reasonable doubt and witness credibility and (2) whether the trial court erred by imposing the maximum sentence.

Factual and Procedural Background

On October 14, 1997, Lee died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head, chest and abdomen. At trial, Kenneth White testified that he saw Ford walk up behind Lee and point his hand toward Lee’s head. Although he did not see a gun, White…