PEOPLE V. W.M.
Jun 24, 2021OUTCOME: JURY VERDICT - NOT GUILTY
After a two-day trial on June 24, 2021, a Madison County jury reached a Verdict in finding my client W.M. not guilty of first-degree murder. The State alleged that on November 3, 2019, my client shot ... the victim, six times. I presented evidence that the victim, who previously battered my client, attacked him in his sister's home, where my client was moving in. My client testified that while the victim attacked him, he saw a gun in the waistband of the attacker's pants. Acting in self defense, he shot him six times. The victim died from his injuries on November 9, 2019. My client's sister was dating the victim, and walked in on the victim and my client after the shooting. My client wanted to stay to check on the victim, but his sister told him to leave. He left with the victim's gun and threw it away. He then went to the hospital for 6 days and then turned himself in. In reaching its decision, the jury, compromised of eight women and four men, deliberated for seven hours, and determined my client was justified in his use of deadly force in reaching a not guilty verdict. This is an example of one man armed with the truth fighting against the awesome power of the State and winning. My client waited for 20 months to finally tell the complete story of what actually happened. We are thankful the jury listened and paid attention to all of the evidence.