State v. Rooks

*790¶1

Schindler, J.

— Mark Allen Rooks appeals his conviction for murder in the second degree of his ex-girl friend, Amanda Gurr. Rooks argues his constitutional right to be present at a critical stage of the trial was violated when he was excluded from an in-chambers conference to address his attorneys’ motion to withdraw based on a conflict of interest. Rooks also argues the trial court erred in admitting his statements to the police including a 90-minute taped confession because the State failed to establish the corpus delicti of the crime; the prosecutor committed misconduct during jury…