We recently told the story of Zach Peterson, a man found guilty of 2nd degree murder even though the jury not only believed him not to be the shooter but also that he wasn't even near the crime when it occurred. He was found guilty using the 'Felony Murder Rule'. Today I sit down with OMR's voice of reason and defense attorney Michael Leonard to discuss the case and the Felony Murder Rule.

On Tuesday January 18th 2011 just after 2pm police get a call about gun shots and a man lying in a pool of blood at the Sunset Trailer Park off Lenoir Street in South Columbia. 

The following day at 1:30pm police would say that Zach Peterson was their main suspect in the death of 31 year old James Leon Porter, killed during a suspected drug deal gone bad. Zach has never denied setting up the deal and driving James Porter to the location, however he says that was the extent of what he knows from that day as he would leave Mr. Porter at the trailer park and drive across town and would later find out things went bad and James had been shot.

At trial Zach's defence would bring strong evidence to help prove he was not in fact the shooter in this crime. 

The jury would later decide that they did not in fact believe Zach to be the shooter however he would still be found guilty of 2nd Degree Murder, why? the Felony Murder rule. 

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