In a handwritten inmate form, a convicted killer has launched an appeal against his guilty verdict and life sentence for second-degree murder. Damian Hudson, 35, was convicted by a jury last December of firing the fatal bullet that struck down Karolina Huebner-Makurat as she headed to meet a girlfriend for lunch on Queen St. E.
During his fight with two rival drug dealers outside the now-shuttered safe injection site, Hudson opened fire on the busy street, with one bullet striking Huebner-Makurat in the back. Hudson testified that he fired in self-defence, a claim rejected by the jury.
Hudson's conviction for second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence. Another suspect, Ahmed Ibrahim, was sentenced in April to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter for his part in the woman's senseless death.
Hudson has listed several grounds for his appeal, accusing Superior Court Justice of confusing the jury with misleading and incorrect instructions, improper use and admission of prejudicial evidence, and misapprehension of evidence. He also claims he had ineffective assistance of counsel and is seeking Legal Aid to pay for a new lawyer.
Hudson returns to Superior Court later this month – the judge has yet to determine when he should be eligible to apply for parole. The third suspect is still at large.
