Miss. court upholds conviction in beating death
Published 2:58 pm Thursday, February 17, 2011
The state Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Brookhaven man in the 2006 beating death of 36-year-old Jewel Duane Douglas.
Michael Leggett was given a life sentence without parole in 2009 for depraved heart murder.
Prosecutors say Douglas was beaten to death at his Lincoln County home with a tire tool on Oct. 11, 2006.
On appeal, Leggett argued that there was insufficient evidence to show he acted with premeditation.
The Appeals Court on Tuesday said depraved heart murder is murder resulting from an act of reckless disregard for the safety of others. The court prosecutors didn’t have to prove premeditation.
