TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week on a Barton County man’s appeal of his first-degree murder conviction. Jeffrey Wade Chapman was convicted of murdering 25-year-old Damon Galyardt in 2011.
Chapman’s case is one of several set to be heard at 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.
Issues on appeal are whether the Barton County District Court erred in denying a change of venue, and abused its discretion in allowing the state to introduce evidence of a text message.
Galyardt accused Chapman of having an affair with his girlfriend. During a confrontation, Chapman shot Galyardt in the chest on the night of Nov. 11, 2011, and then took the body to the country. The body was discovered by hunters the following morning.
Chapman testified that Galyardt came at him with a knife. Despite his claim of self-defense, the jury convicted Chapman of first-degree murder and he received a “Hard 25” sentence.