__NOTOC__ Fowler v. United States, , was a United States Supreme Court case in which the court held that when someone is charged of a killing under the federal witness-tampering statute, the state must prove a violation by showing there was a reasonable likelihood that a relevant communication would have been made to a federal officer..
Background
While preparing to rob a bank, Charles Andrew Fowler and others were discovered by a local police officer, whom Fowler killed. Fowler was convicted of violating the federal witness-tampering statute, which makes it a crime "to kill another person, with intent to... prevent the communication by any person to a [Federal] law enforcement officer" of "information relating to the... possible commission of a Federal offense." Rejecting Fowler's argument that the evidence was insufficient to show that he had killed the officer intending to prevent him from communicating with a federal officer, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that a showing of a possible or potential communication to federal authorities was sufficient.
Opinion of the court
The Supreme Court issued an opinion on May 26, 2011.
Subsequent developments
References
External links