Just want to point out that in California sudden quarrel or heat of passion (if proved, and not saying it can be proved here) can bring a homicide down from murder to voluntary manslaughter.
I believe that applies in most states.
I remember one time a guy who tried to say the girl he was with died from an erotic sex act that she willingly participated in claiming it was an accident instead of murder. She had been strangled to death. He was charged with first degree and his attorneys did go with this defense claiming it was all an accident. The jury didn't believe him for one second and found him guilty of premeditated first degree. Sorry, I cant remember his name at the moment.
Most genuine crime of passion cases I have seen are 2nd degree murder and most were convicted of that charge.
It will all depend on if Blaze had defensive wounds or bruises and was beaten and bruised before he finally was killed. Each violent act committed against the victim can show it was a premeditated act to kill.
I have read over the years it takes up to four minutes to strangle someone to death. I don't know if Blaze was strangled, but if so, it shows the perpetrator had many minutes in which to stop his murderous act before he killed him. It shows his full intent was to murder Blaze. IMO
I really do not think this will be less than first degree. There are countless ways to prove premeditation.
Imo, for whatever reason, SW wanted Blaze dead, and that is why he is no longer living today.
Now if there are no other wounds on the body but except maybe ONE fatal blow to the head that may be a lesser degree. If strangled, that takes aforethought, and constant intent the entire time it took for Blaze to die.
Usually crime of passion cases are where someone picks up something handy in a fit of rage, and hits the victim one time causing their death. I just don't see that happening in this case.
JMO though