ST. PAUL, Minn. – State of Minnesota Court Of Appeals upheld the conviction Monday of Charles Anthony “Tony” Maddox Jr. for the second-degree murder of his wife and former Times-Union reporter Ruth Anne Maddox.
On Sept. 27, Tony Maddox argued his murder conviction should be reversed in the 2008 death of Ruth Anne Maddox, on multiple grounds, including that the killing doesn't qualify as second-degree murder.
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.
In his appeal, Maddox argued 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 argued 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.
In his appeal, Maddox also argued 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 argued.
The defense also argued 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.
The judges were expected to issue an opinion within 90 days, but did so within 30 days.
In its decision, the Court of Appeals ruled the district court did not err by denying Tony Maddox’s pretrial motion to suppress evidence obtained as a result of a search of his home.
The combination of all of the alleged facts established probable cause for the judge to issue the search warrant.
The judge had a substantial basis to conclude that probable cause existed to believe that Ruth Anne or evidence concerning her disappearance would be found in the townhouse. The Court also determined the search warrant described the items to be seized with particularity and was not a general warrant, and there was a sufficient nexus between the townhouse and Ruth Anne’s disappearance.
The Appeals Court also found the district court did not err by denying appellant’s pretrial motion to suppress evidence obtained as a result of his search upon arrest, and did not err by denying appellant’s motion to remove a juror for cause.
“The evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s guilty verdict,” the Appeals Court found, and “... There was sufficient evidence in the record to support the jury’s determination that defendant intended to effect the death” of Ruth Anne Maddox ... The evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s determination that (Tony Maddox) did not act in self-defense.”
Finally, the Appeals Court concluded “the evidence was sufficient to support appellant’s conviction of second-degree murder.”
On the Net: http://www.mncourts.gov/opinions/coa/current/OPa112024-102912.pdf
