The accused, Kadah Dematas and Christopher Lucas, brought motions for directed verdicts on multiple charges, including attempted murder, discharge firearm with intent, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon, stemming from a home invasion and shooting.
The court granted directed verdicts of not guilty for attempted murder and possession of a firearm knowing it was obtained by crime, finding insufficient evidence of specific intent to kill or a reasonable prospect of conviction for the latter.
However, the court denied directed verdicts for discharge firearm with intent, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon, concluding that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence for a reasonable jury to infer guilt for these general and specific intent offences (excluding the specific intent to kill).
The court also found a common purpose among the intruders.