North Carolina's intermediate appeals court says a man convicted of killing someone with a sawed-off shotgun is entitled to a new trial because the judge failed to instruct jurors about a possible self-defense argument. A three-judge panel on Tuesday vacated the first-degree murder conviction of Ronald Wayne Vaughn Jr.
RALEIGH, N.C. — A man convicted of killing his landlord’s adult son with a sawed-off shotgun is entitled to a new trial because the presiding judge failed to instruct jurors about a possible self-defense argument, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Possessing a gun like the one Vaughn used —a Winchester .410 caliber shotgun with a sawed-off barrel that makes it easier to conceal and potentially more destructive — is a felony, and Vaughn was also convicted on that count. Court of Appeals Judge Allegra Collins, while acknowledging that the trial judge lacked that state Supreme Court ruling, wrote in Tuesday’s prevailing opinion that the jury should have been instructed on the stand-your-ground provision.
“The evidence viewed in the light most favorable to Defendant could have supported a jury determination that Defendant’s use of deadly force was justified and that there was no causal nexus between the disqualifying felony and his use of deadly force,” Collins wrote.
Juries Legal Proceedings Crime General News NC State Wire Homicide Politics Courts U.S. News N U.S. News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Donald Trump, Nikki Haley host rallies in North Carolina days ahead of Super TuesdayNorth Carolina is getting visits this weekend from major political players in the presidential race days before Super Tuesday.
Read more »
US judge blocks some North Carolina restrictions on abortion pillA federal judge has struck down parts of a North Carolina law restricting patients' access to the abortion pill mifepristone, which has become the subject of legal battles nationwide.
Read more »
Some North Carolina abortion pill restrictions are unlawful, federal judge saysRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Some of North Carolina government's restrictions on dispensing abortion pills — such as requiring that only doctors provide the drug
Read more »
Some North Carolina abortion pill restrictions are unlawful, federal judge saysA federal judge has ruled that some of North Carolina government’s restrictions on dispensing abortion pills — such as requiring that only doctors provide the drug — are unlawful
Read more »
Some North Carolina abortion pill restrictions are unlawful, federal judge saysA federal judge has ruled that some of North Carolina government’s restrictions on dispensing abortion pills — such as requiring that only doctors provide the drug — are unlawful. U.S.
Read more »
Service planned for former North Carolina Chief Judge John MartinA memorial service will be held Friday for former North Carolina Court of Appeals Chief Judge John C. Martin. A funeral home obituary said that Martin died April 9 at his Raleigh home at age 80. Martin served on the intermediate-level Court of Appeals for more than 24 years, including 10 as chief judge from 2004 until he retired in 2014.
Read more »