Bowman County conspiracy to commit murder convict appeals case

The woman convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the 2016 death of a Bowman man is appealing her case to the state’s Supreme Court.

Madison West was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after being found guilty in the death of 23-year-old Nicholas Johnson.

Court records show West’s case was heard by the North Dakota Supreme Court last week.

Documents say West is appealing for three reasons. She says the district court failed to lay out the conspiracy to commit murder charge correctly during jury instructions. She’s also says there was insufficient evidence that she intentionally caused the death of Johnson. Lastly, West is appealing the district court’s decision about having a joint trial with her codefendant and ex-boyfriend Chase Swanson.

Swanson was also found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit murder.

Documents say Britta K. Demello Rice with the State’s Attorney’s office says there was sufficient evidence to back the charge. Weiss says there wasn’t anything to correct in the amended information during jury instructions and says the court didn’t err when they denied West’s motion.

The case is now in the hands of highest court in the state.