Appeal Held for Man Convicted of Killing Warsaw Woman
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Charles Anthony Maddox Jr. was scheduled to argue Thursday that his murder conviction should be reversed in the 2008 death of his wife, Shakopee Valley News reporter Ruth Anne Maddox, on multiple grounds, including that the killing doesn't qualify as second-degree murder.
Oral arguments were scheduled Thursday morning before a three-judge panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals in St. Paul, according to the Shakopee Valley News.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
Maddox, 46, was convicted by a Scott County jury in June 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He admitted killing his 45-year-old wife (and concocting a cover-up) amid a contentious divorce, but claimed he acted in self-defense, the Shakopee Valley News reported.
In his appeal, Maddox argues that prosecutors failed to prove he intended to kill his wife, whom he claims went after him with a screwdriver and large knife during an argument about their impending divorce.
He also argues that it was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he had not killed his wife in a heat of passion or sudden provocation, which could qualify him for a manslaughter conviction.
During a recorded jail conversation, the defense notes, Maddox told his brother that he had “just snapped.” Maddox also argues that it was he who was sad about the impending divorce, and Ruth Anne Maddox who was angry about his attempts to gain custody of their dogs and part of her 401(k) retirement fund.
“The jury rejected Maddox’s credibility and did not believe his story that he was attacked by Ruth Anne and killed her in self-defense,” the Scott County Attorney's Office wrote in its appeal response.
Maddox’s claim of acting in the heat of passion ignores his wife’s extensive bodily injuries as well as that he had remarked at work that he was thinking of killing his wife, prosecutors wrote. Additionally, they wrote that Maddox conducted a detailed cover-up of his wife’s killing and showed a lack of remorse, telling police officers, she “put up a good fight” and that he just “lost it.”
In his appeal, according to the Shakopee Valley News, Maddox also argues that the warrant obtained to search his home the night after his wife was reported missing was invalid because officers had no probable cause that a crime had been committed. Subsequent warrants issued after Ruth Anne Maddox’s body was found in the garage should also be invalid, he argues.
The prosecution responds that police only obtained the warrant after officers were refused entry to the home and Charles Maddox refused to sign a missing persons report. Additionally, Maddox lied about his whereabouts the night before and had previously sent a text message to his stepdaughter saying he wouldn’t let his wife go and would keep her “at all costs.”
The defense also argues that the judge should have removed a potential juror – whose cousin was killed by her husband – from the jury pool as being biased. Instead, the defense had to use one of its limited strikes to excuse the juror.
Prosecutors respond that the defense did not make the same argument during jury selection, instead requesting that the juror be excused because of the juror’s financial concerns about having to attend trial.
The judges are expected to issue an opinion within 90 days.[[In-content Ad]]
Charles Anthony Maddox Jr. was scheduled to argue Thursday that his murder conviction should be reversed in the 2008 death of his wife, Shakopee Valley News reporter Ruth Anne Maddox, on multiple grounds, including that the killing doesn't qualify as second-degree murder.
Oral arguments were scheduled Thursday morning before a three-judge panel of the Minnesota Court of Appeals in St. Paul, according to the Shakopee Valley News.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
Maddox, 46, was convicted by a Scott County jury in June 2011 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He admitted killing his 45-year-old wife (and concocting a cover-up) amid a contentious divorce, but claimed he acted in self-defense, the Shakopee Valley News reported.
In his appeal, Maddox argues that prosecutors failed to prove he intended to kill his wife, whom he claims went after him with a screwdriver and large knife during an argument about their impending divorce.
He also argues that it was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he had not killed his wife in a heat of passion or sudden provocation, which could qualify him for a manslaughter conviction.
During a recorded jail conversation, the defense notes, Maddox told his brother that he had “just snapped.” Maddox also argues that it was he who was sad about the impending divorce, and Ruth Anne Maddox who was angry about his attempts to gain custody of their dogs and part of her 401(k) retirement fund.
“The jury rejected Maddox’s credibility and did not believe his story that he was attacked by Ruth Anne and killed her in self-defense,” the Scott County Attorney's Office wrote in its appeal response.
Maddox’s claim of acting in the heat of passion ignores his wife’s extensive bodily injuries as well as that he had remarked at work that he was thinking of killing his wife, prosecutors wrote. Additionally, they wrote that Maddox conducted a detailed cover-up of his wife’s killing and showed a lack of remorse, telling police officers, she “put up a good fight” and that he just “lost it.”
In his appeal, according to the Shakopee Valley News, Maddox also argues that the warrant obtained to search his home the night after his wife was reported missing was invalid because officers had no probable cause that a crime had been committed. Subsequent warrants issued after Ruth Anne Maddox’s body was found in the garage should also be invalid, he argues.
The prosecution responds that police only obtained the warrant after officers were refused entry to the home and Charles Maddox refused to sign a missing persons report. Additionally, Maddox lied about his whereabouts the night before and had previously sent a text message to his stepdaughter saying he wouldn’t let his wife go and would keep her “at all costs.”
The defense also argues that the judge should have removed a potential juror – whose cousin was killed by her husband – from the jury pool as being biased. Instead, the defense had to use one of its limited strikes to excuse the juror.
Prosecutors respond that the defense did not make the same argument during jury selection, instead requesting that the juror be excused because of the juror’s financial concerns about having to attend trial.
The judges are expected to issue an opinion within 90 days.[[In-content Ad]]
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