Columbia man found guilty of ax murder

The six-woman, six-man jury deliberated about an hour-and-a-half before declaring Norman guilty of second degree murder in the death of Timothy Michael Fuller in January.

Norman, 51, faces 15 to 60 years in prison. He will be sentenced on Sept. 20.

According to Columbia police, Fuller and Randy Norman’s daughter, April, were visiting Norman and his ex-wife, Gwenda Westmoreland, on the day of the murder. The two women testified all four were drinking beer and were taking Lortab, a narcotic pain killer, that evening when they began fighting and pulling hair.

Westmoreland said the fight began as she came out of the kitchen and heard April Norman cursing her.

“Randy Norman called Michael to come in the room and stop the fight,” Westmoreland said. “… Then I saw Michael on the floor and the blood and saw Randy standing there with an ax.”

The defense claimed that Randy Norman hit Fuller because he had a knife, although both women said they did not see Fuller with a knife.

Norman, testifying in his own defense, said Fuller had his ex-wife’s head in his hands and was hitting it against the floor.

“Then he let go of her head with his right hand and reached toward his pant’s pocket,” Norman said. “I thought he was going to kill Gwenda.”

Norman’s sister Tracy was disappointed with the outcome.

“It’s a sad day in America when you can’t protect your home from a menace like Michael Fuller,” she said. “My brother did what he thought he had to do. He doesn’t deserve the verdict he got today.”