SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS RITCHIE MURDER CONVICTION

(12/01/2006)
The state Supreme Court unanimously rejected an appeal from a Ritchie County man convicted of killing one man and wounding another during a break-in on Memorial Day 2004.

Brusie "Don" Lanham is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole.

Lanham forced his way into the Pennsboro residence of Anna Moore and shot her father and boyfriend.

Lanham had been romantically involved with Moore. Her father, Barry "Buck" Moore, was wounded after trying to prevent Lanham from entering the mobile home.

The boyfriend was 36-year-old Jon Broadwater. He was killed blocking the door to the bedroom where Anna Moore and other relatives had fled.

Lanham's defense argued before the court that police failed to preserve the mobile home as a crime scene.

Yesterday's ruling said that the police properly took photos of the scene that were shared with the defense.