Calhoun County Murder Conviction Stands

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A Calhoun County man’s 2013 conviction of murder has been upheld by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Andy Nicholas Brown, now 32, is serving a life sentence in the 2012 stabbing death of 68-year-old Earlie Balford. Authorities say Balford was stabbed several times with a screwdriver inside his Pittsboro home in Calhoun County.

In his appeal, Brown argues his attorney failed to properly investigate the case. He argues he should have been allowed to present the jury with the possibility the stabbing was in self-defense or fell under the state’s manslaughter statutes.

The Supreme Court said Thursday that Brown’s lack of defensive wounds failed to support his claim of self-defense and Balford’s 18 stab wounds were evidence of the intent to kill rather than an intent to defend.