Court Upholds Murder Conviction in Robeson Crash
North Carolina's appeals court affirmed a second-degree murder conviction tied to a June 2020 roadway incident that killed Melissa Lowry.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Criminal Justice
The North Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed the second-degree murder conviction of a defendant over a fatal late-night pursuit on Cabinet Shop Road in Robeson County in June 2020. The court also rejected the defendant's claim that trial counsel was ineffective for not requesting a recording of closing arguments.
Why it matters
The ruling leaves a 450-552 month prison sentence in place for a defendant sentenced as a prior record level VI. It also clarifies that failing to request recording of closing arguments does not, on this record, amount to ineffective assistance of counsel.
The conviction stands after the Court of Appeals opinion published November 9, 2026, leaving a sentence of 450-552 months in prison. The felony hit-and-run count was dismissed by the State at the start of trial, and the record does not describe any further appeal.
The players
North Carolina Court of Appeals
The state's intermediate appellate court, which reviews criminal convictions from trial courts across North Carolina.
Melissa Lowry
The woman whose death in a June 2020 roadway incident in Robeson County led to the defendant's murder conviction.
The details
Prosecutors said the defendant, who had previously dated the victim, followed Melissa Lowry in his SUV and both sped before she ran off the road. Lowry called 911 reporting that a vehicle was trying to run her off the road, and damage to both vehicles was consistent with contact; the defendant presented no evidence at trial.
Timeline
June 2020: Late-night pursuit on Cabinet Shop Road in Robeson County
November 9, 2026: Court of Appeals opinion affirming the conviction published
Legal Context
The appeal turned on N.C. Gen. Stat. §15A-1241, which governs whether closing arguments must be recorded in criminal trials. The court's treatment of that statute shapes how defendants can challenge counsel's performance when arguments go unrecorded.
The ruling confirms a lengthy sentence for a fatal roadway incident in Robeson County, a reminder of the consequences of pursuit-related crashes. Attorneys and defendants statewide should note the court's position on unrecorded closing arguments.
The takeaway
Appellate courts will uphold a conviction even when trial counsel did not request a recording of closing arguments, if the record does not show prejudice. Anyone reviewing a case should check early whether closing arguments were preserved.
Further reading
For more on how courts handle appeals like this, browse Criminal Justice coverage for North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly.
