Jurors weighing ‘believable evidence’

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

ROCKINGHAM — At 10:13 a.m. Tuesday, jurors were excused from Courtroom E on the third floor of the Richmond County Judicial Center to the jury room to begin deliberating the case against Alexander Ingram.

Alexander Ingram, pictured inset, is accused of first degree murder in the beating death of former Norman General Store owner Michael Leverne Collins Sr.

Alexander Ingram, pictured inset, is accused of first degree murder in the beating death of former Norman General Store owner Michael Leverne Collins Sr.

The 63-year-old Jackson Springs man is charged with first degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in the Nov. 26, 2012 beating death of former Norman General Store owner Michael Leverne Collins Sr.

At 11:50 a.m., there was a knock on the door from the jury room. Jurors requested of Superior Court Judge Richard T. Brown to see photos of the crime scene. They also wanted a copy of the instructions on law Brown verbally issued prior to the start of they’re deliberations. Brown expressed a preference for offering the instructions to the jurors a second time, again verbally, rather than providing a printed copy. The first round of instructions took 28 minutes.

Brown instructed the jury on several points of law. He said there was a mix of direct evidence, such as the testimony of a witness, and circumstantial evidence. Under state law, both types of evidence are to be considered equal. He also made note of the testimony of Henry Thomas “Pete” Ingram. The Candor man and Alexander Ingram’s nephew faces the same charges of first degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Pete Ingram is being tried separately, but Brown instructed jurors that Pete Ingram “has an interest in the outcome of the case.”

He urged jurors to consider his testimony with “the greatest care and caution.”

To find Alexander Ingram guilty of robbery with a dangerous weapon, the jurors must believe that the defendant unlawfully took items from the victim — at issue is Collins’ wallet and the estimated $400 to $500 it contained.

There are two parts to the murder charge. To find Alexander Ingram guilty of murder in the first degree, jurors must believe that Alexander Ingram committed robbery with a dangerous weapon, killed Collins in the act of committing the robbery and that Alexander Ingram’s actions led to Collins’ death.

To find Alexander Ingram guilty of murder by a malicious, deliberate and premeditated act, jurors must believe that the defendant intended to kill and killed Collins and believe that the defendant’s actions led to Collins’ death.

Previous coverage
* 4/6: Defense: Cops ‘just didn’t do their job’
* 4/6: Case against Alexander Ingram goes to jury
* 4/3: Things the jurors will never know
* 4/2: Judge denies defense motion for mistrial
* 4/2: Defense seeks mistrial
* 4/1: Detective: ‘I forgot’ to search co-defendant’s home
* 4/1: Pete Ingram: ‘To clear myself, I’d tell on my momma’
* 3/31: Co-defendant: ‘My uncle killed that man’
* 3/31: Defendant’s nephew: My uncle did it
* 3/30: 911 calls replayed, detectives questioned
* 3/30: Victim’s wife of defendant: ‘He was our friend’
* 3/27: Alternates selected, opening statements set for Monday
* 3/26: Medical emergency delays murder trial
* 3/25: ‘At a particular place at a particular time’
* 3/25: Jury set in murder trial of Norman General Store owner
* 3/25: Prospective juror caught up in gambling ring
* 3/24: Race becomes an issue in jury selection
* 3/24: Defense works from “presumption of innocence”
* 3/23: Jury selection begins in murder trial

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