STATE v. SYKES (2024)

Order

Victor Sykes appeals from his convictions of three counts of first-degree murder, § 565.020,¹ and three counts of armed criminal action, § 571.015, for which the court sentenced him to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment without parole for the murder counts and three consecutive terms of ten years’ imprisonment for the armed criminal action counts. On appeal, Sykes argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions insofar as it did not establish that he was at least eighteen years old at the time of each of the murders, that he personally deliberated on each of the murders, or that he aided or encouraged Codefendant to shoot Victims L.J. and B.J. He further argues that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting, over his objection, State's Exhibits 105 and 106, which were autopsy photos of Victim B.J.; Sykes argues that the photographs lacked probative value and were gruesome and duplicative. Finding no error, we affirm. Rule 30.25(b).

FOOTNOTES

1.   All statutory references are to the Revised Statutes of Missouri (2016), unless otherwise noted.

Per Curiam: