Criminal Law Keyed to Lee
People v. James
Facts
James’ main source of income to support her family was manufacturing methamphetamine (meth) in their mobile home. As she was “cooking” the meth one day, a dangerous chemical caught fire, which resulted in the mobile home being destroyed, killing her three children, and she was ultimately charged with second degree murder along with other various charges related to the meth. James testified that none of the chemicals had ever caught fire before and she had taken various precautions including cooking the meth on a hot plate in a locked bathroom, to ensure such an event would not take place. James admitted to using various dangerous chemicals but denied they presented any danger to the family or the home. However, a hot plate can still cause the chemicals to ignite and regardless, her son testified James had been making meth in the kitchen when the fire began. The jury found James guilty of second degree murder and James appealed.
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