Domestic Murder in St. Paul

2006-M-19          State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Ronald E. Cram, Appellant.

DESCRIPTION OF CRIME:  On December 5, 2001, St. Paul police and paramedics responded to Cram’s 911 call from his home, arriving within five minutes of the call.  Cram told the 911 operator that he was arguing with his wife of 26 years and then she stopped breathing.  The paramedics found Colleen Cram on the floor unconscious, ashen, and with marks on her body.  She was not breathing, had no heartbeat, and had multiple bruises from the tips of her fingers to her head, back, abdomen, legs, and feet.  Cram, who was agitated, very wet with perspiration, and pacing, told a member of the Rescue Squad something like “I did it this time.”  Asked by a paramedic how his wife got the marks on her body, Cram said, “I beat her up, I hit her.” 

THE TRIAL:  Cram waived his right to a jury trial.  After five days of testimony, the trial concluded, and the court took the matter under advisement.  The court subsequently issued written findings of fact.  The court found Cram not guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, guilty of first-degree domestic abuse murder, and guilty of second-degree intentional murder.  Cram was sentenced to life in prison. 

THIS DECISION:  Justice Gildea wrote for a unanimous Supreme Court on the consolidated appeal which included a Direct Appeal and a first petition for post-conviction relief.  The Supreme Court upheld Cram’s convictions and sentence.

First, the Supreme Court held that any evidentiary errors were harmless. 

Second, the Supreme Court held that defendant’s trial counsel was not constitutionally ineffective in challenging a restitution award when defendant provided no basis to contest the award.

Third, the Supreme Court held that the post-conviction court did not abuse its discretion in denying both defendant’s petition for post-conviction relief and his motion for an evidentiary hearing when the record conclusively showed that defendant’s trial counsel’s representation fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance and was not constitutionally ineffective.

DATE OF DECISION:  August 3, 2006

RECORD NUMBER:  2006-140

FULL OPINION:  CX-02-1178, A05-1379,

DESCRIPTION:  [MURDER]  [DOMESTIC] [GILDEA]