Opinion ID: 853412
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: The facts most favorable to the verdict show that in the evening hours of January 14, 1999, a group of men attacked and beat Edward Crafter. His body was found in a field the following morning. At least four of the men were charged in connection with Crafter's death, one of whom was Tommy Thompson. In exchange for his testimony, the State dismissed charges against Thompson for murder, robbery, and criminal gang activity and allowed him to plead guilty to aggravated battery. At trial, Thompson downplayed his own involvement in Crafter's death and instead blamed Ferrell and another accomplice, Steven Kilpatrick, who was tried along with Ferrell as a co-defendant. [1] He testified, for example, that he observed Kilpatrick strike Crafter in the head with a chunk of ice and that as Crafter lay on the ground Ferrell and Klipatrick searched Crafter's pockets. Thompson also testified that sometime thereafter he observed Ferrell and Kilpatrick dragging Crafter through the street; that Kilpatrick stabbed Crafter multiple times in the neck and that Ferrell stabbed him in the chest; and that both Ferrell and Kilpatrick dragged Crafter's body into some bushes. An autopsy revealed that in addition to abrasions and contusions to his face, Crafter suffered an injury to the back of his head consistent with being struck with a large block of ice. The autopsy also revealed that Crafter died as a result of multiple stab wounds. A jury convicted Ferrell of murder, attempted robbery, aggravated battery, and criminal gang activity. The trial court sentenced him to an aggregate term of 100 years imprisonment. [2] This appeal followed.