State of Minnesota v. Melvin Bilbro

Summary

The court affirmed Bilbro’s convictions and sentences, holding that the evidence was sufficient to establish first-degree domestic-abuse murder. The evidence supported both a significant romantic or sexual relationship with the victim and a past pattern of domestic abuse based on Bilbro’s prior conduct and the circumstances of the charged offense. The court also held that a judge, rather than a jury, could determine whether the arson qualified for an additional sentence because that finding did not increase the sentence beyond the applicable guidelines.