State v. Johns

PRICE, Chief Justice.

A jury convicted Alis Ben Johns (a.k.a. Joe Johns) of first degree murder for the killing of Thomas Stewart on October 1, 1996. Because the trial court sentenced Johns to death, we have exclusive jurisdiction over the appeal. Mo. Const. art. V, section 3. We affirm the judgment.

I. Facts

Alis Johns began spending time with Thomas Stewart in the spring of 1996. Both men traveled in the same circles and spent considerable time drinking alcohol together. On the night of October 1, 1996, Johns accepted a ride from Stewart’s girlfriend, Deborah Tedder. Stewart, who had been…