Tragic Turn of Events: Woman Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in Volatile Relationship

Sakina Muhammad

In a recent courtroom drama in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a jury delivered a verdict that shook the community. Sakina Muhammad, aged 23, faced a jury trial where she claimed she shot her boyfriend, Kwan Andre Winston Jr., 27, in self-defense. However, the jury rejected her claim, finding her guilty of first-degree murder.

The tragic incident unfolded on March 13, 2022, at the couple's apartment in Wyoming. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, November 16, came after three days of gripping testimonies. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker, commenting on the case, acknowledged its complexity, saying, "This was a difficult case."

Assistant prosecutors Kim Richardson and Angela Curtis were commended for their exceptional presentation to the jury. Becker expressed gratitude that the jury meticulously considered the evidence and reached their verdict.

The couple's relationship had been characterized by volatility, with frequent arguments often reported by neighbors living in the four-unit apartment complex on Taft Avenue SW. The Wyoming police had responded to the apartment around 10 p.m. on that fateful day after Muhammad's mother reported hearing a heated argument between her daughter and Winston while they were on the phone.

When the police arrived at the scene, they discovered Winston had been shot in the head, slumped against the door at the bottom of the stairwell. After the shooting, Muhammad left the apartment with her young daughter. She turned herself in to the authorities the following day, asserting that she had shot Winston in self-defense, claiming he had been choking her.

Complicating matters further, Winston was not supposed to be at the apartment as he had previously pleaded no contest to two charges of aggravated assault related to domestic violence. Prosecutors revealed that just half an hour before the shooting, Muhammad had posted on social media, stating, "Single as a mf (mother------)."

According to witnesses, the couple had been engaged in a heated argument before Winston began pleading for his life. It was alleged that Muhammad responded with the chilling words, "'No, bro, you're dead,'" just before the fatal shot was fired.

Assistant Prosecutor Angela Curtis emphasized that Muhammad and her family had attempted to shape the narrative surrounding the incident throughout the trial.

The fate of Sakina Muhammad now rests in the hands of Kent County Circuit Judge Paul Denenfeld, who presided over the trial. Her sentencing is scheduled to take place at a later date, and she faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder conviction. This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic disputes that escalate to such tragic ends.