GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the second degree murder conviction of Kalamazoo accountant Andy Brown.
A St. Joseph County Circuit Court jury convicted Brown in July of 2014 after three days of deliberations in the death of his employer, 70-year-old Steven Locey. Brown was also found guilty of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Brown was ordered to serve at least 39 years in prison for Locey’s murder.
Locey was shot to death in his Sturgis accounting office in October 2013 after he had confronted Brown about embezzling $100,000 from clients.
According to a 16-page opinion, the court rejected defense arguments that the trial court erred in admitting gunshot residue as evidence. The defense felt the residue was not relevant and they also claimed the expert testimony was not reliable.
The court also rejected an argument by the defense that a new trial should be held based on the cumulative effect of errors.
