Actus Reus Of Murder Case Study

Based on information gathered by the prosecution prior to November 6th, 2017, I believe that the jury will find defendant Rebekah Ponder guilty of the murder of Walter White, and defendant Elshaday Yilma will be found complicit. However, evidence will be found insufficient for the jury or an otherwise reasonable person to convict either defendant of robbery. During the trial, the jury will convict Ponder and Yilma of murder and complicity to murder because of the evidence that will be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the prosecution.
As seen in chapter 507, section 20 of the Penal Code for The State of Berea College, The Actus Reus of Murder is an act that causes the death of a person or third person. In Ponder’s case, the physical aspect of murder is easily proven beyond a reasonable doubt using evidence and witness testimony. A witness on the scene of the crime named Chris Adams states that he saw a tall female with long, straight dark hair standing with a gun in her hand pointed directly at Walter White’s head. Chris Adams’ description of this unidentified subject …show more content…
However, using witness testimony and evidence from the scene of the crime, we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions of Walter White, even if they were threatening, did not need to be met with deadly force from Ponder and Yilma. Their actions were not proportionally reasonable in response to his perceived threat. It may also be argued that Walter brought a gun to the scene of the crime because his fingerprints were found on the barrel and handle of the 9mm gun found at the scene, as noted by the forensic evidence. However, his ownership of this gun cannot be proven because the serial identification numbers had been erased. Walter White’s girlfriend Grace Callow also says she has no knowledge of him ever owning a gun, and she does not believe he would lie to