‘Stand Your Ground’ Argument Leads to Murder Dismissal
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a first-degree murder charge based on Wyoming's new "stand your ground" law.
Prosecutors argued that Jason John lured Wesley Willow to his Casper home to shoot him and was not protected by the law.
John's attorney argued that Willow had threatened John before coming to his home uninvited in August and John was entitled to defend himself in his own home.
Natrona County Judge Catherine Wilking agreed and dismissed the charge against John on Friday. But Wilking also urged prosecutors to appeal the case to let a higher court consider the law's implications.
The shooting took place in August, about a month after the law took effect in July.
District Attorney Dan Itzen says he plans to appeal the decision.