Malone guilty of first-degree murder

May 17, 2005

The jury left the courtroom at 2:11 p.m. to begin deliberations in the Ricky Ray Malone trial and returned at 3.53 p.m. with a verdict of guilty of first degree murder.

The penalty phase of the trial will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Malone is accused of shooting to death Trooper Nik Green on Dec. 26, 2003.

Green, a 35-year-old father of three, was shot twice in the back of the head with his own gun on a country road in Cotton County, according to testimony.

Defense attorneys attempted Monday to build a case that Malone was unable to form the intent to kill because of his heavy meth use. Malone was out of his mind in a methamphetamine-induced craze at the time of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper’s murder, the defense contended.

Jurors had three choices: not guilty by reason of insanity, first-degree murder and second-degree murder. First-degree murder is punishable by life in prison or life without parole.

Fifth District Attorney Robert Schulte appeared to become emotional in remarks before the jury left to deliberate.
"I don’t want to be the one to leave something out," Schulte said, his voice breaking. "I’ve got a dead trooper out there. I’m not as young as I used to be."

So he makes himself notes.

"These things I do for me so that I don’t mess up."

He then told jurors to take their time but to reach a verdict of guilty of first degree murder.

Linda Green, the murder victim’s widow, stood with her head bowed and eyes closed for a short time just after walking out of the courtroom.

Copyright 2005, Times Record News. All Rights Reserved.