This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

Butler (D) believed in good faith that Anderson owed him money. D threatened Anderson with a gun to get repayment of the monies that were owed. Anderson reached for the gun which fired, killing him and injuring Locklear. At trial, the court ruled that because there was no evidence of premeditation or deliberation, there could be no finding of first-degree murder unless D committed the killing in the perpetration of a robbery. The prosecution argued that a robbery was committed even though D had no intent to steal. D was convicted and appealed.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

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Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.