Tripp v. State
Maryland Court of Special Appeals
374 A.2d 384 (1977)
- Written by Angela Patrick, JD
Facts
Willie Tripp (defendant) had a romantic relationship with Hazel Wilson and lived with her for two years. Wilson was married to someone else and intermittently visited her husband or went drinking. Both acts made Tripp jealous. After a fight, Wilson moved into her mother’s apartment. Four days later, Tripp put on gloves, altered a lock in the building’s basement, and tricked Wilson’s mother into letting him into the apartment. Tripp then shot and killed Wilson. After killing Wilson, Tripp found and shot four other members of Wilson’s family, killing three and seriously wounding one. Tripp then went grocery shopping. Tripp was charged with four counts of first-degree murder. At trial, the trial court refused Tripp’s request to instruct the jury that it could convict Tripp of manslaughter. The jury convicted Tripp of four counts of first-degree murder. On appeal, Tripp argued that he had acted in the heat of passion and, therefore, that the trial court should have given the jury instructions about manslaughter.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Moylan, J.)
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