United States Eighth Circuit

A conviction for drug- and firearm-related offenses, as well as aiding and abetting the killing of a potential witness, is affirmed where: 1) the trial court did not commit error during jury voir dire relating to defendant's membership in a street gang; 2) defendant's Confrontation Clause rights were not violated by the admission of hearsay statements of a deceased victim; and 3) sufficient evidence supported the conviction for aiding and abetting the killing of the victim with the intent to prevent him from communicating with law enforcement about possible federal offenses.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/04/2008
• Published 08/04/2008

Judges

• LOKEN, Chief Judge., Before LOKEN, Chief Judge, MURPHY, Circuit Judge, and JARVEY, District Judge.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Dennis J.C. Owens, Kansas City, MO, argued (William E. Shull, Liberty, MO, on the brief), for appellant., Steve L. Wright, Jr., White Deer, PA, pro se.


• For Appellees:
  
• Charles E. Ambrose, Jr., Asst. U.S. Atty., Kansas City, MO, argued (John F. Wood, U.S. Atty., on the brief), for appellee.