State v. Shock

Under Missouri's felony-murder statute at the time, a homicide committed during certain named felonies, or "any other felony," constituted first-degree murder. Shock (defendant) beat a young boy with a fishing pole and a grapevine for about fifteen minutes, bruising his head, severely beating his back, and fracturing his skull; the boy died from the beating. At trial, the court instructed the jury that Shock was guilty of first-degree murder if he intended to inflict great bodily harm, even without intent to kill, and he was convicted and appealed.