State v. McConnell

Finney, Justice:

Appellant John Vance McConnell, Jr., was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

On the night of December 14, 1983, the deceased and the appellant attended a Christmas party at a nightclub. The record is devoid of evidence of any animosity or bad blood between the two. In fact, it reveals they had been celebrating, imbibing, and singing together on the evening of the incident.

The party ended around 2:00 a.m. on the morning of the 15th, and the appellant invited the deceased and deceased’s girlfriend to his apartment. The…